Medical community and those related to allied health profession on Thursday welcomed health-care programme announced by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget for 2018-19, but not without critical evaluation and suggestions.
While hailing Budget’s focus on health sector, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), however, is of the view that the Budget still ‘lacks’ the necessary allocations to mitigate the problems faced by the community with regard to having an accessible, affordable, accountable and scientific health care.
IMA, which had demanded minimum 3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for health sector, stated that an integrated and consolidated approach involving sanitation, drugs, nutrition department under health is not considered under the Budget.
On the Government’s commitment to investing Rs 1200 crore for establishing 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres to bring health care system closer to the homes of people, IMA national president Dr Ravi Wankhedkar said, “Even though the move to open 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres is a good move, the meagre allocation of Rs 1,200 crore translates to only Rs 80,000 per centre. Still IMA promises to support this move in a PPP model.”
Doctors across the city welcomed the Budget promise to set up 24 new Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals by upgrading existing district hospitals in the country to enhance accessibility of quality medical education and health care.
However, the IMA demanded that 50 per cent of seats in these Government medical colleges be reserved for the students of that district with a rider to serve in the same district.
National Health Protection Scheme, covering up to 5 lakh per annum per family for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation for 10 crore families is a very good move, said most of the doctors.
“The National Health Protection Scheme announced by the Government will be the world's largest health insurance support covering 50 crore people i.e. 40 per cent of the Indian population. By providing Rs 5 lakh per year to poor families for secondary and tertiary care related hospitalisation needs, the Government has indeed taken concrete steps in reducing India's health burden,” said Vivek Srivastava, CEO and Co-Founder of HealthCare at HOME, India leading home healthcare solution provider.
“Often many of the families reel under immense pressure due to lack of money for various types of treatment required. It's a huge investment for middle class but with the Government providing the cover it would not be a problem,” said Praveen (30), a compounder, adding his family had eight members and usually spend 3 lakh per year on treatment and medicines.
“We need over 6 lakh plus beds to cater to our population and this shortage is more in tier II and III cities. Hence, the move to have one medical college per three constituencies and 1.5 lakh health and wellness is a very welcome one,” said Swadeep Srivasatva, Founder and Managing Partner of India Virtual Hospital.
A senior doctor working in a Delhi Government hospital says that bringing in new changes are indispensable but emphasis should also be laid upon maintaining and strengthening the existing structure.
“The hospitals are reeling under the shortage of staff. Opening of new medical colleges is a welcoming step but the existing facilities and structure should also be strengthen,” said Dr Avinash Kumar, specialist Grade I, Deep Chand Bandhu Government Hospital, Delhi.
Another senior doctor Dr Rajeev Sood of RML Hospital said the funding for Research & Development in health should be increased. “We don't have our own comprehensive broad range data based on which research & development can be done. Thus we are either sticking to either very basics in medicines or are just adopting research of western countries,” said Dr Sood.