Despite
plethora of good intentioned programmes envisaged in the charted course,serious doubts
linger atop the policy about availability of financial resources.
The
health Ministry proposes increase in the health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of
the GDP against ,the existing level of
1.2 per cent of the GDP.
The mute
question which is baffling many that the bold initiative will be funded
finally by them in form of a health cess. the Health minister J.P Nadda who
looks quite enthusiastic about the policy has not made any case for such
a cess,but the health sector drivers speculate that given talks of cess on
tobacco cigarettes and liquor in the past, such taxes can not be ruled out.
The health care
providers organisations have battled for preventive health care so number of
patients flooding hospitals can be mitigated substantially,and the policy
echoed similar sentiments,because of
this, it has laid thrust on healthy lifestyle and promotion of Yoga as a
preventative measure against a slew of diseases.The plan to involve the Ayush
Ministry in such a initiative is another welcome step.
Goalposts transfixed for various diseases appear achievable
given the intent of the Narendra Modi Government to deliver.The National Health Policy was framed in 2002. So, this policy has come after
a gap of 15 years to address the current and emerging challenges necessitated
by the changing socio-economic, technological and epidemiological landscape. The government must involve the associations of the health care providers and the Indian confederation for healthcare accreditation to accomplish the uphill task in a facile way .
The policy informs
and prioritizes the role of the Government in shaping health systems in all its
dimensions- investment in health, organization and financing of healthcare
services, prevention of diseases and promotion of good health through
cross- sectoral action, access to technologies, developing human resources,
encouraging medical pluralism, building the knowledge base required for better
health, financial protection strategies and regulation and progressive
assurance for health. The policy is aimed at reaching healthcare in an assured
manner to all, particularly the under served and underprivileged.
The policy aims for
attainment of the highest possible level of health and well-being for all at
all ages, through a preventive and promotive health care orientation in all
developmental policies, and universal access to good quality health care
services without anyone having to face financial hardship as a consequence.
The policy seeks to move
away from Sick- Care to Wellness, with thrust on prevention and health
promotion. While the policy seeks to reorient and strengthen the public health
systems, it also looks afresh at strategic purchasing from the private sector
and leveraging their strengths to achieve national health goals. The policy
looks at stronger partnership with the private sector.
The Policy advocates a progressively incremental
assurance-based approach. It envisages providing larger package of assured
comprehensive primary health care through the ‘Health and Wellness Centers’ and
denotes important change from very selective to comprehensive primary health
care package which includes care for major NCDs, mental health, geriatric
health care, palliative care and rehabilitative care services.
It advocates allocating
major proportion (two-thirds or more) of resources to primary care. It
aims to ensure availability of 2 beds per 1000 population distributed in a
manner to enable access within golden hour. In order to provide access and
financial protection, it proposes free drugs, free diagnostics and free
emergency and essential healthcare services in all public hospitals. It
aims to Increase Life Expectancy at birth from 67.5 to 70 by 2025; Establish
regular tracking of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) Index as a measure of
burden of disease and its trends by major categories by 2022;Reduction of TFR
to 2.1 at national and sub-national level by 2025.
It also plans to reduce reduce Under Five Mortality to 23 by
2025 and MMR from current levels to 100 by 2020;reduce infant mortality rate to
28 by 2019;reduce neo-natal mortality to 16 and still birth rate to “single
digit” by 2025;to achieve global target of 2020 which is also termed as target
of 90:90:90, for HIV/AIDS i. e,- 90% of all people living with HIV know their
HIV status, - 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection receive sustained
antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy
will have viral suppression;Achieve and maintain elimination status of Leprosy
by 2018, Kala-Azar by 2017 and Lymphatic Filariasis in endemic pockets by 2017
etc.
The policy focuses on
tackling the emerging challenge of non-communicable diseases. It supports an
integrated approach where screening for the most prevalent NCDs with secondary
prevention would make a significant impact on reduction of morbidity and preventable
mortality.
To improve and
strengthen the regulatory environment, the policy seeks putting in place
systems for setting standards and ensuring quality of health care. The policy
is patient centric and empowers the patient for resolution of all their
problems.
The policy also looks at reforms in the existing regulatory systems
both for easing manufacturing of drugs and device s, to promote Make in India,
as also for reforming medical education. The policy, has at its centre, the
person, who seeks and needs medical care.
The policy advocates
development of cadre of mid-level service providers, nurse practitioners,
public health cadre to improve availability of appropriate health human
resource. The policy also seeks to address health security and make in
India for drugs and devices. It also seeks to align other policies for medical
devices and equipment with public health goals.
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