HEALTHCARE - THE NEED TO
REGULATE AND ENHANCE
While the state and central budgets for health care spending have
increased over the years, they remain low by global standards, not only in
comparison with the advanced west but countries from the third world.
Health care is a primary responsibility of the state, especially in a
poor nation like India and spending on it certainly needs to be increased in
comparison to other sectors. While life expectancy is 66 years in India, it
is 74 in Brazil, 75 in China, 59 in South Africa and 79 in the US. Increasing
healthcare spending particularly by the government and more
importantly reaching healthcare facilities to all, needs to be ensured.
While
safety index in childbirth has shown a healthy progress, in relation to other
countries, India has a long way to go in child
mortality. While the
national figures depicting various facets of health care seem encouraging there is huge disparity in
healthcare advancement and dispensing between the advanced and backward states and this is
something that needs to be looked into.
There is also lopsided growth in health care between villages,towns and
big cities in the same State.Studies also point out that there are lacuna in
some areas of health care even in States which are supposedly advanced in health
care dispensing, for (eg) Although
Tamilnadu is considered a progressive state in
healthcare, states like Punjab, Kerala and Haryana are more progressive in some parameters. It is a
matter of grave concern that awareness on Immunization and health and hygiene of pregnant and
breast-feeding mothers have not reached a large
section of the population.
Life-style
diseases, hereditary diseases, accident injuries are areas registering a
steady increase, leading to
higher personal spending on health and
hygiene. This is a critical area needing special attention,While some state governments have health
insurance schemes in place,which enable people
below the poverty line to access expensive
medical care. It should be borne in mind that expanding
insurance services and Medical cover will lead to pushing up of costs and excess
diagnosis and treatment in
private hospitals and therefore like in other markets, creation of a strong regulatory body under the new health
policy is a necessity.
It is a welcome trend that traditional
treatment methods like ayurveda, siddha, unani
and yoga are increasingly being sought after by the
common man. They are also being dispensed alongside allopathic treatment in
government institutions. It is essential to expand the scope of these
unconventional,low cost treatment modalities which do not have adverse side
effects.
There is also a need to have a strong regulatory body to monitor and
avoid malpractices in
private sector hospitals. This will ensure quality healthcare at reasonable
cost are available to people.
Article by
A Mahalingam
Healthcare Administrator and
Academician
TwinTech
Healthcare Academy, Chennai
Mobile : 97104
85295 / eMail : mahali@mahali.in / Web : mahali.in
