6 Major Steps of Narendra Modi Government for Better Healthcare in India
India needs to go a long way in providing an easily accessible, efficient and cheap healthcare to every citizen.
Despite the overburdened healthcare services, India is still one of the top three destinations for medical tourism in Asia, according to a study in 2014. The reasons behind it can be the availability of highly skilled doctors (number still needs to be increased to support the growing population), quality healthcare infrastructure (so much to do to make it accessible for all) and the low cost of treatment.
The present government promised healthcare assistance to every citizen and reduction in the healthcare expenses with the help of state governments. It also aimed to focus on many healthcare issues in India including the incidences of water-borne diseases in the country, poor hygiene and drinking water.
Let us take a look at the six major steps of the government taken to provide a better healthcare system in India.
Making India Open Defecation Free Country
Open air defecation and lack of proper sanitation and hygiene bring many serious health diseases like diarrhea, intestinal infections, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis. Many water-borne diseases spread around due to the transmission of fecal pathogens via water. It also leads to malnutrition and poor growth in children.
The government launched a national campaign in 2014 to make India open defecation free by 2019. 70 percent population who live in rural areas and poor urban slum areas defecate in the open.
“Jahan Soch Wahan Sauchalaya”
the slogan of Vidya Balan, brand ambassador of open defecation free India drive, was taken nicely by many states of India.
Recently Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerela became the first three open defecations free state of India. The government provided financial assistance to build toilets in households and made more than 80 lakhs public toilet till now. The effort is still going on to achieve the mission by 2019.
Swachh Bharat Mission
image credit: india.gov.in
The government reiterated the dream of the Mahatma Gandhi to make India clean and launched Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Initiative) in 2015.
The government imposed Swachh Bharat Cess (SBS) on 15 November 2015 as acceleration towards clean India. It is applicable only on taxable services at the rate of 0.5%.
The cess is collected in the Consolidated Fund of India to finance and promote Swachh Bharat initiatives of the government. The government raised INR 3,901.76 crore during fiscal 2015-16.
Launch of New National Health Policy 2017 (NHP)
Recently the government launched new NHP after 15 years the last health policy was approved. The plan aims to strengthen India’s healthcare system. The policy proposes to increase the public health expenditure by 2.5 percent of the GDP from the current 2 percent GDP spending on healthcare.
The policy aims to reduce the maternal mortality rate, infant and child death rate due to many noncommunicable and infectious diseases.
Elimination of leprosy by 2018, kala-azar and lymphatic filariasis by 2017 is targeted in the policy.
The policy aims to reduce the prevalence of blindness to 0.25 per 1,000 persons by 2025. Reduction in premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases by 25% by 2025, reduction in the current use of tobacco by 30% by 2025, safe water and sanitation for all by 2020 are targeted in this policy.
The policy aims to achieve the global target for HIV/AIDS by 2020 the goals include 90% of all people living with HIV know their status, 90% of all people living with HIV received sustained antiretroviral therapy, and the viral in 90% of those receiving antiretroviral therapy is suppressed.
image credit: narendramodi.in
Improved quality of healthcare, more accessibility, increased reach to underprivileged ones and reduced cost of healthcare delivery are aimed to achieve under the new NHP. The policy seeks to increase the use of public health facilities by 50% from current levels by 2025.
The NHP wants to achieve the “highest possible level of health and well-being for all at all ages” by various cost effective preventive and promotive measures.
Entering Digital India with E-Health
The big Digital India campaign by the government in 2015 also showed the effort to make digitalize healthcare with E-Health for better efficiency.
The increase in the knowledge database, simplifying complex concepts and greater transparency are the three basic advantage of E-Health.
Healthcare services like ePharmacy, eDiagnostics can remove many malpractices of the healthcare industry and make it accessible to even those in remote areas having little access to healthcare. The introduction of electronic health record (EHR), national knowledge network for tele-education, teleconsultations and digital library are some vital digital intervention for nation’s health.
Connecting digitally to specialized doctors from anywhere increases the reach of the professionals to the patients.
An eHospital app has been launched with an Online Registration System (ORS) to reduce the burden of registration and other formalities needed at hospitals before treatment and checkup.
Medical Equipment Manufacturing
The global market size for medical devices is about $220 billion. In recent years, the government introduced some new policies that will help India to tap the growth in medical devices industry. Concerns regarding the domestic production of high-end medical devices and pharma equipment manufacturing in India are also being addressed. This will increase the accessibility and affordability of sophisticated equipment in India.
Last year, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)between India and Papua New Guinea on cooperation in the field of Healthcare and Medical Science.
Door-to-Door Screening for Chronic Diseases
In 2017, World Cancer Day (4 February) a massive free door-to-door screening for the early detection and treatment of cancer, heart disorders, and diabeteswas inaugurated. This programme targets the critical age group of 30 to 69 years old people.
The health of working age population is critically important for a developing country like India. The improvement in their health, the chance of survival and productivity is essential to eliminate poverty and growth and development of the country.
Top 10 causes of death at 30-69 years in India (image credit: financial express)
In 2015, the Prime Minister launched rotavirus vaccine, Rotavac of Bharat Biotech– first indigenously developed and manufactured vaccine. Every year, diarrhea caused by rotavirus kills about 80,000 children under 5 years of age. The development of this advanced rotavirus vaccine in India is a wonderful symbol of healthcare development in India.
Bharat Biotech also launched the first indigenously developed H1N1 swine flu vaccine under the brand name HNVAC™. It is also developing vaccines for the mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and chikungunya.
In the coming times, many other major reforms can be expected from this government that will propel the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector of India to develop a healthier India.
Featured image credit: Bigstockphoto (Narendra Modi healthcare initiative 2017)
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