Yesterday we celebrated World Health Day and our Prime Minister reiterated the hope of a healthy India and access to affordable medicines. Just over a year ago we elected the BJP government, on the back of an inspiring manifesto! ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ was the slogan and the BJP Manifesto promised good governance with a pro-growth agenda. It also promised high priority to the health sector and radical reforms in the healthcare system: national healthcare programmes and delivery, medical education and training and financing of healthcare. It declared that the overarching goal of healthcare would be to provide, ‘Health Assurance to all Indians and to reduce out of pocket spending on health care’.
In his July 10, 2014 budget speech, finance minister Arun Jaitley stated: “To move towards ‘Health for All’, the two key initiatives i.e. the Free Drug Service and Free Diagnosis Service would be taken up on priority.” However, there was no provision in the budget. This was followed by the announcement of a universal health insurance programme under UHAM (Universal Health Assurance Mission).
Towards the end of 2014 the draft National Health Policy 2015 was released. This aimed to improve the performance of health systems in the country with health being accorded the status of a fundamental right. At about the same time, the government ordered a cut of nearly 20 percent in its 2014/15 healthcare budget due to fiscal strains, putting at risk key disease control initiatives in a country whose public spending on health is already among the lowest in the world.
In February 2015, the much awaited Union Budget had no mention of medicine, drugs or diagnostics. Recently, health has suffered another setback with the Government pressing the brakes on the National Health Assurance Mission, which proposed to provide free drugs, diagnostic services and insurance for serious ailments for India’s 1.2 billion people. And just a few days ago, we have learned of a quiet burial of the Free Drugs Plan!
It is very discouraging that Healthcare in India still does not seem to be receiving the priority it deserves!Nike Air Max 90 Essential – Medium Olive – AJ1285-205