M.B. Rajagopal, Chairman, Pallium India, on Friday said the control of healthcare delivery system should be given to the community and healthcare professionals should only act as facilitators of medical care.
The community plays a key role in the healthcare deliverance but this is not happening in the country, he said, after inaugurating the Palliative Care Centre at PKTB Sanatorium here.
Endorsing the declaration of the Global Conference on Primary Health Care at Astana in Kazakhstan in October last, Dr. Rajagopal, who has been running palliative care services in Kerala for many years, said healthcare delivery will not be successful without the participation of the community. He commended the Mysuru community for coming forward to be part of the palliative care initiative.
‘An industry’
He lamented that healthcare has become an industry in the country and is reckoned to be second most powerful after the arms industry.
Right to healthcare
Dr. Rajagopal said the bedridden have a right to healthcare. “A study has revealed that 55 million people in India have slipped to below poverty line over the years because of healthcare expenditure. People were losing the healing touch of a doctor.”
SVYM Secretary Dr. (Flt Lt) M.A. Balasubramanya said 75% of palliative care can be done at community level; 20% in hospitals and 5% with palliative medicines.
Around 45% of patients who require palliative care were those with heart ailments; 24% were cancer patients; 10% were HIV patients, and the rest were those suffering from various other diseases.