Dr Girdhar J. Gyani
June, 2014
Good democracy is characterized by effectiveness in three areas i.e. EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT & HEALTHCARE. So far these sectors have only got lip service by the government. Our country has constantly been rated very low on the HRD index, simply because we have not accorded priority to these sectors. Government is duty bound to ensure Well Being of population through framework of good governance built around these sectors.
Article 21 of the constitution guarantees protection of life and personal liberty to every citizen. The Supreme Court of India has held that the right to live with human dignity, enshrined in Article21, derives from the directive principles of state policy and therefore includes protection of health. Further it has also held that the right to health is integral to the right to life and the government has a constitutional and moral obligation to provide health care facilities to every individual.
The High Level Expert Group instituted by Planning Commission of India in Oct 2010 lays out the blueprint and roadmap for achieving universal health coverage for all by 2022. To achieve these goals, the role of the State is to act as a catalyst, provide necessary regulatory framework, and take appropriate policy initiatives and make legislative changes so as to create an enabling environment for overall and speedy growth of healthcare sector in the right direction.
At the time of independence in year 1947, only 8% of modern medical care was provided by the private sector. Limiting the need for private practitioners was one of the recommendations of the seminal 1946-report on the Health Survey & Development Committee (BHORE Committee). Contrary to the recommendations made by BHORE committee, the private sector now dominates (with about 80% share in healthcare expenditure) the provision of personal care except in selected health programs. More than 70% 0f all outpatient and 50% of all inpatient care is being delivered by private sector.We have not been able to raise healthcare spending (public + private) more than 5% of GDP, as compared to global average of 9.7%.
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