How we can improve the Indian Healthcare System
Public health:
- It has to do with curing illnesses.
- The goal is to stop them, which calls for knowledge in a number of disciplines, including economics, sociology, urban planning, and environmental science.
- This comprehensive aspect is frequently missed by India’s public health system, which now has a physician-centric approach.
Medical System:
Illnesses eradicated:
- smallpox (which, after being exterminated, is continuously monitored)
- polio
- tetanus in newborns
- measles
Projects that guarantee instantaneous outcomes:
- fresh medical facilities
- Treatments that are subsidised in private hospitals
- Response to emergencies (above preventive)
- policies on health that are populist.
Concerns relating to these initiatives:
- Because there isn’t anything being done other than making public pronouncements, they don’t really make an influence.
- because of financial limitations.
- These programmes take focus away from vital areas that are necessary to sustain population health and stop disease outbreaks, like public health education, disease surveillance, and sanitation.
- In the case of dengue, there is no permanent cure—only symptomatic relief.
- Political leaders use the State apparatus to establish temporary relief camps in response to an increase in cases, often at the expense of long-term plans.
- like comprehending vector bionomics or creating potent vaccinations.
- minimises the public’s ability to focus on the underlying causes of illness
- its sustained avoidance
- the necessary investigation for vector control
- creation of vaccines
- infrastructure for public health is improved.
What actions are necessary?
- Taking a cue from the design of the space programme and the Indian legal system, health care will gain from being kept apart from political procedures.
- Rather than being driven by political expediency, public health decisions ought to be grounded in long-term objectives and scientific data.
- By keeping things separate, public health decisions will be determined by knowledge and data rather than election cycles.
- Even though they are not always apparent, nutrition programmes investments have a significant impact on productivity and health.
The POSHAN Abhiyan Scheme:
- Every year, it hopes to cut down on low birth weight by 2%, undernutrition by 2%, anaemia by 3%, and stunting by 2%.
National Family Health Survey, Fifth Edition:
- It was shown that between 2019 and 21.1% of children under five were underweight and 5% were stunted.
- The percentage of anaemic children (6-59 months) rose from 6% to 67.1%, whereas the percentage of anaemic women (15-19 years) climbed from 54.1% to 59.1%.
Way Ahead:
- Preventive measures, policy development, community health, and environmental health are just a few of the areas that should be included in effective public health management.
- Adopting a separation of powers strategy is crucial in the field of public health.
- A fair and efficient health system must be free from political influence and concentrate on enacting laws and policies that are informed by long-term goals and scientific data.
- It is essential to prioritise health decisions based on scientific evidence and broad public health objectives.
- As with the space and atomic energy ministries, place Health Ministries immediately under the direction of elected politicians, such as the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister.
- It would guarantee that health policies are in line with people’s urgent and practical demands and grant some degree of autonomy.
- finding a balance between the wishes of the general population and choices made by experts.
- The issues of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, access to healthcare, and disinformation necessitate a more comprehensive, long-term strategy in public health policy.
- To create long-term health policies that meet the population’s present as well as its future health demands, it is essential to keep political objectives and health-care decision-making separate.
