After many years we are finding a realistic approach towards health sector. The focus is on primary health sector which was missing in previous budgets. Instead of patients going to hospitals, health professionals will now come to their doorsteps. The most striking aspect is that health workers, Asha workers will make house to house visit. This proposal reminds me of health workers clad in white saris visiting our house in 70’s and inquiring about well being of family members. This is a ground breaking decision aimed at strengthening health care system at the grassroots level.
Compiling medical data of the entire population will be useful in identifying health issues confronting people, figuring out problem areas, formulating new policies and setting priorities. At the moment we don’t have authentic data on the prevalence of lifestyle diseases. The health sector has always faced constraints in implementing projects because of shortage of man power. Creation of 5250 posts including 1350 doctors is significant. Strengthening of district and taluk hospitals will ease the rush on medical college hospitals which are bursting at the seams.
The decision to set aside Rs 1000 crore for health insurance including Rs 197 cr for RSBY and Rs 350 cr for Karunya, has put all speculations about discontinuing Karunya Benevolent Fund to rest. The decision to provide medicines to people undergoing organ transplantation at 10 per cent cost is a significant step. But the government could have also declared Trivandrum, Kottayam and Kozhikode medical colleges as centre of excellence for liver, heart and kidney transplantation. On the whole I will give eight out of ten for health proposals.
(Dr. Sanil Kumar is health activist, as told to Gilvester Assary)
