Health Care

Policy Writer: Naya Yug |

Health standards of a country reflect the social, economic, political and moral well being of its ordinary citizen. Economic and social growth of a society and country is directly dependant on the health of its constituents. Over 20 million Indians are pushed below the poverty line every year because of the effect of out of pocket spending on health care. Health care costs have skyrocketed and the health insecurity has become a shared Indian experience. This growing problem is pushing health care reform back onto the agenda of Indian politics after more than a decade of neglect. There are approximately 10 hospital beds per 10,000 individuals.

Infant mortality rate: Total: 32.31 deaths/1,000 live births
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 5.1 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 310,000 (2001 est.)

• Section 9.1 - We should create an effective framework for guaranteed access to affordable, high quality health care for every Indian.
• Section 9.2 - We need to reform the health care system by building and strengthening the mechanisms for providing individuals and families with coverage, which should include employer-based coverage and public programs.
• Section 9.3 - Responsibilities for health-care should be divided between the central and state governments, and both the public and the private sectors should play a vital role.
• Section 9.4 - We need to setup wide range of community and public health services including school health, dental health, maternal and child health and environmental health programs.
• Section 9.5 - We should setup Aged Care System for residential (accommodation and various levels of nursing and/or personal care) and community care (ranging from delivered meals, home help and transport to intensive coordinated care packages for people who otherwise would need residential care).
• Section 9.6 - We need to introduce Flying Doctor Service to delivers care to remote areas by aircraft.
• Section 9.7 - Provide substantial grants to State governments to contribute to the costs of providing access to public hospitals at no cost to patients.
• Section 9.8 - Introduce Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) to provide all eligible persons with access to effective and necessary prescription medications at a reasonable cost to the patients and to the nation.
• Section 9.9 - Provide no-cost primary care to the population which experience access difficulties and/or financial burden.
• Section 9.10 - We need to lower the cost of care, improve health through access to more appropriate resources and reduce the inequities in our population’s health.
• Section 9.11 - Setup effective prevention measure to tackle the epidemics of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
• Section 9.12 - Provide quality health care to all people in India, including those who may be disadvantaged.
• Section 9.13 - Provide funds to local government to support preventive care and health care promotions.
• Section 9.14 - Initiate programs to attract the brightest and the best of our country to work for primary and secondary care and community service.
• Section 9.15 - Introduce National Program of safety and quality in primary and secondary care, hospitals, workplace, schools & colleges.
• Section 9.16 - Introduce Medical Health Budget to ensure timely access to Public Funded Services for those who cannot afford or access Private Services.
• Section 9.17 - We need to strengthen our National Health Care policy and develop partnership with Private and Public Funded Service.

Your Voice - For Open Discussion about Health Care