Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Health cover for all' that was published in Newsband

Health cover for all

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announced on Independence Day that Ayushman Bharat, or the National Health Protection Mission, will be launched formally on September 25. The government is finally recognising the linkages between health care and economic development.

It is unsustainable for a country of 1.3 billion people to rely on household savings to pay for health care. The NHPM is providing a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family a year to 10 crore families chosen through the Socio-Economic Caste Census, mainly rural poor and identified urban workers.

A large-scale Information Technology network for cashless treatment should be set up and validated. As far as National schemes on health are concerned, the responsibility of executing them falls on the State governments. There are “nations within the nation” in India, given the population sizes, disease burdens and the development levels of different regions. The NHPM has a problem with the distribution of hospitals, the capacity of human resources, and the finances available

It is no doubt an opportunity to tap into a large labour pool for the new jobs that will be created, and to raise skill levels. Reducing the cost of universal health coverage is imperative, The Centre should extend the scheme to all children and senior citizens.

Video of treatment of each person must be recorded to arrest mal-practices. Health care needs realistic approach. Announcing long gigantic schemes and boasting of 'largest' welfare scheme may not solve problems on the ground. Rural people do not have access to primary health centers. This must be addressed first

The NHPM is great challenge as also an opportunity for the Union and the State Governments. Proper understanding and cooperation between the central and the state functionaries is a sine qua non for the success of the scheme. As healthcare is a major challenge for a country of over 1.3 billion population it is but inevitable that there will be several glitches in its implementation and redressing various complaints.The proposal of setting up of an Ombudsman’s office to look into and redress the complaints is most welcome. Whatever may be the initial problems the initiative by the Prime Minister to revolutionize the healthcare sector is most welcome and needs the all out support of all sections of the society.

Focus on the infrastructure and hygiene issues of the public hospitals which are so dirty that even a healthy person will become sick in merely a fraction of second by just visiting them. No extra budget will be required if all the public hospitals are upgraded and made better than Apollos

Rich have their own private hospitals due to which they never do anything good for the public by making medical services affordable. NHPM is a big task. Its execution is difficult. Multiple agencies must be in order. States are not stable on health issues except a few. Private players are pondering their own interest. Rolling NHPM is a risky game.Challenges are big.Outcomes will decide it's significance.

Food/Water, Clothing, Shelter, Medicine/Health and Security form fundamental needs of every Indian citizen, who have low earning power.

India has 950 million people, who need total support for minimum decent living. And Medicine/Health form 4th in the ranking of needs, as expressed above, earlier.

Though the National health protection mission is commendable, the promised subsidies to 10 crore families alone would amount to 750 Billion U.S Dollars, which is more than a quarter of the national GDP. Now if you add the cost of infrastructure and implementation it will be much more. Also assure that the scheme reaches the deserving people.

Alongside Smart Cities, it is necessary to create medical townships accessible to all within 10 kilometers radius , housing all healthcare facilities ( including captive blood banks, well equipped ambulances with trained staff to provide emergency relief ) in one complex with electric cars to run around free of charges, within the complex, to take care of the varied needs of patients’ and their attendants’ needs.