Friday, March 02, 2012

Reacting to PM’s nod on public health services

This is still far below the WHO recommendationsIDPD
                                            Dr. Arun Mitra, Dr. L. S. Chawla and others at a press conference in Ludhiana (File photo)
While welcoming the Prime Minister’s nod to allocate 2.5% of the GDP on public health services, the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) has said that this is still far below the WHO recommendations for spending 6% of the GDP on public health services. Dr L S Chawla– President IDPD and Dr Arun Mitra–General Secretary IDPD said in a joint statement that several countries in the world including Sri Lanka are spending this much amount on their health services and it has shown results in their health indicators. In fact the earlier GDP spending in India was only 0.9%. After the NRHM in the last plan it was said that 2-3% would be allocated for public health but in fact only 1.4% was spent that also in a phased manner from 2005 to 2011. Every year 2% of our population goes below poverty line because of out of pocket expenditure on health. Large number of our population has to take loan or shelve their other necessary expenses for healthcare spending even government surveys accepted. A clear cut policy in this regards is needed. The GDP spending should start from 2.5% and increase up to 6%  by the end of the 12th plan.

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