NHRC's two-day national conference on health care as human right begins in New Delhi.
5th November, 2013, New Delhi
A two day National Conference on Health Care as a Human Right organised by the National Human Rights Commission began in New Delhi today. Inaugurating it, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC said that no right is more fundamental than right to health. Limited reach of public health system and high cost of private treatment is a point of concern. The progress in the health sector is very slow, which is already impacted by shortage of doctors, para-medical staff and ethical issues relating to clinical drug trials, drug pricing and unrequired surgeries. He said that the success of public health system lies in easy accessibility, availability and affordability of treatment.
Justice Balakrishnan said that the NHRC has adopted a pro-active approach towards the issue relating to right to health and has consistently held the view that ensuring comprehensive health care facilities for all is the responsibility of State. Nevertheless, he said that doctor-patient ratio in the country may not be good as per the statistics but a doctor can be easily accessible in India compared to many countries with good doctor-patient ratio.
Addressing the inaugural function, Mr. Manoj Jhalani, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that paradigm shift is required in the health care system in the country. Public health spending, which is at present at 1.2 per cent of GDP, needs to be improved as more than 70 per cent expenditure on treatment and medicine is borne by people from their pockets. Universal health care is the need of the hour to ensure cashless treatment. The Government is moving towards this goal and the National Rural Health Mission is a step in that direction.
Renowned Cardio-Surgeon, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty said that health care system in the country needs more regulatory changes than the financial allocation. The Government cannot solely depend on the advice of Medical Council of India for taking any action with regard to health care system in the country. All over the world unlike in India, persons who provide initial health care at Primary Health Centres, are not MBBS doctors. Focus should be on providing short term training to people to manage primary health care given their shortage as there cannot be post graduate level doctors to man all these Centres. Nursing needs to be made an attractive vocation from the point of view of career prospects. He cited examples of some of the programmes being run successfully in some States like Karnataka.
The two day Conference will discuss various issues, which include, 'Availability, Accessibility, Quality and Affordability of Health Care Services in India - Need for Universal Health Care'; 'Women and Child Health - Important Issues'; 'Clean Drinking Water, Hygiene and Sanitation: A Step Towards Better Health Care'; and 'Occupational and Other Work-Related Diseases'. Several experts, representatives from central and state government, civil society, NHRC Members and senior officers will be participating in the discussions. The recommendations emanating out of the deliberations will be sent to the Government.
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A two day National Conference on Health Care as a Human Right organised by the National Human Rights Commission began in New Delhi today. Inaugurating it, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC said that no right is more fundamental than right to health. Limited reach of public health system and high cost of private treatment is a point of concern. The progress in the health sector is very slow, which is already impacted by shortage of doctors, para-medical staff and ethical issues relating to clinical drug trials, drug pricing and unrequired surgeries. He said that the success of public health system lies in easy accessibility, availability and affordability of treatment.
Justice Balakrishnan said that the NHRC has adopted a pro-active approach towards the issue relating to right to health and has consistently held the view that ensuring comprehensive health care facilities for all is the responsibility of State. Nevertheless, he said that doctor-patient ratio in the country may not be good as per the statistics but a doctor can be easily accessible in India compared to many countries with good doctor-patient ratio.
Addressing the inaugural function, Mr. Manoj Jhalani, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that paradigm shift is required in the health care system in the country. Public health spending, which is at present at 1.2 per cent of GDP, needs to be improved as more than 70 per cent expenditure on treatment and medicine is borne by people from their pockets. Universal health care is the need of the hour to ensure cashless treatment. The Government is moving towards this goal and the National Rural Health Mission is a step in that direction.
Renowned Cardio-Surgeon, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty said that health care system in the country needs more regulatory changes than the financial allocation. The Government cannot solely depend on the advice of Medical Council of India for taking any action with regard to health care system in the country. All over the world unlike in India, persons who provide initial health care at Primary Health Centres, are not MBBS doctors. Focus should be on providing short term training to people to manage primary health care given their shortage as there cannot be post graduate level doctors to man all these Centres. Nursing needs to be made an attractive vocation from the point of view of career prospects. He cited examples of some of the programmes being run successfully in some States like Karnataka.
The two day Conference will discuss various issues, which include, 'Availability, Accessibility, Quality and Affordability of Health Care Services in India - Need for Universal Health Care'; 'Women and Child Health - Important Issues'; 'Clean Drinking Water, Hygiene and Sanitation: A Step Towards Better Health Care'; and 'Occupational and Other Work-Related Diseases'. Several experts, representatives from central and state government, civil society, NHRC Members and senior officers will be participating in the discussions. The recommendations emanating out of the deliberations will be sent to the Government.
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