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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Health policy under scanner

Health policy under scanner

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published Published on May 23, 2013   modified Modified on May 23, 2013
-The Telegraph


A physicians-led health group has expressed fears that the Centre is straying from plans to provide free essential medicines at public hospitals and to introduce universal healthcare services through tax revenues.

The non-government Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) has said the plans for free essential medicines and an expansion and strengthening of public health services in rural areas appear to be in jeopardy because of inadequate health budget allocations.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the JSA has also expressed concern at what it says are indications from the Planning Commission about pursuing a model of universal healthcare that will rely on insurance and corporate sector-led healthcare networks.

"The JSA sees a dangerous push in the direction of using public funds mainly for (a) PPP (public-private partnership) model to finance care provided by corporate sector-led networks," the JSA said in the letter, sent also to health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and plan panel chief Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

An expert panel had nearly two years ago recommended to the commission a model of universal healthcare under which the government would use tax revenues to pay for a package of services covering common minor and major illnesses and emergency treatment, and the costs of all medicines for outpatient and in-patient healthcare.

The JSA said the 24 per cent increase in the allocation to health for 2013-14 fell short of what was required to roll out the proposals for free essential medicines and universal healthcare.

"We see a pattern where the government seems to be looking at a greater role for the private sector in healthcare while lowering its own commitment to strengthening public health services," said Abhay Shukla, a physician and JSA member.

Shukla said there were signals that the Planning Commission would like to pursue a model of universal healthcare with a significant role for insurance and private hospital networks.

The JSA has echoed the views of a lobby of public health experts and health economists who say the models of public-funded health insurance programmes already implemented in India may prove unsustainable in the long term. The population covered by government-backed insurance schemes rose in India from less than 4 crore in 2004 to nearly 25 crore by 2010.

But studies over the past two years have prompted concerns that government-backed health insurance programmes, such as the Aarogyasri scheme in Andhra Pradesh and the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, are encouraging healthcare services centred on private hospitals.


The Telegraph, 22 May, 2013, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130523/jsp/nation/story_16928936.jsp#.UZ2wuUrcing


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