New Delhi, January 27, 2010

The National Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned about the right to health in the context of many short comings in the present health care delivery system. In particular, it is concerned about the unavailability of essential drugs, doctors and nurses in the country.

In the light of renewed national focus on citizens' right to quality health care, the Commission feels that there is an urgent need to redesign and reform the existing health care system. In this backdrop, the Commission is organizing a meeting of Health Secretaries of all the States and the Union Territories on the 'Illegal medical practice and health care facilities in the Tribal Area' on the 29th January, 2010 in New Delhi. The meeting will also be attended by the representatives of Medical Council of India, Delhi Medical Council, members of NHRC's Core Advisory Group on Health and representatives of civil society. The meeting will be inaugurated by the NHRC Acting Chairperson, Mr. Justice G.P. Mathur.

The Commission has consistently taken the view that the right to life with human dignity, enshrined in the constitution must result in the strengthening of measures to ensure that all the sections of the society have access to better and more comprehensive health care facilities. In this context, it is also concerned about the quacks in the medical profession. The Commission is of the view that the doctors having bogus degrees and registration certificates, providing health care are causing a serious threat to the health of the patients they treat.

Non-availability of National data of registered medical practitioner is another issue which the Commission feels needs attention from the concerned authorities. The registration of an individual as medical practitioner is currently a one time exercise in most of the States; there is no source of data in order to design a universal enlisting method of doctors practicing in the country. There is a need to shift to a system of periodical renewal of system of medical professionals to check quacks.

The Commission feels that private sector in medical care has received relatively less attention from the policy makers as compared to the public sector. Despite the fact that as per an estimate, the private sector accounts for 50 per cent of indoor patient care and 60 to 70 per cent of outdoor patient care.

Another issue is of health care in the tribal population. India has a second largest concentration of tribal population in the world next to Africa. In the present scenario, health nutritional status of all the tribal groups is not good. They do not have encouraging reproductive and child health practices among them. The National Family Health Survey I, II, III data is an indication in that direction. The fifth and sixth schedule of the constitution provides protection to them on account of their disadvantages. Therefore, the emerging issue to discuss is whether the existing module of primary health care delivery system is appropriate or its alternative is needed.


The Commission has raised the issue of non-availability of doctors and para-medical staff in rural and tribal areas in particular. On Commission's views of compulsory rural attachment of doctors, the Sambasiba Rao Committee constituted by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, recommended that one year rural work shall be made mandatory for medical student who want to do post-graduation. However, the Commission has asked the Ministry that one year rural posting should be made mandatory for those also who do not want to do post-graduation.

Another area of concern in health care system is of the quality of drugs. The circulation of spurious drugs is not only a serious health hazard but also a serious violation of human rights.

The meeting is intended to take a look at all such related issues affecting health care system in the country and come out with suggestions to improve it.

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