Healthcare is better in BJP-ruled States: Venkaiah Naidu Hyderabad, November 16: Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday claimed that compared to the Congress ruled States BJP ruled states fare better in taking care of the healthcare needs of citizens by implementing various welfare measures. Speaking after inaugurating Landmark Hospitals at Kukatpally here, the Union Minister said that all the BJP ruled States have been providing public healthcare schemes benefiting crores of poor people. Citing an example, he said in Chhattisgarh a universal medical insurance scheme – Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme – leaves no person uncovered irrespective of whether he/she is poor or rich; the first of its kind in the history of India and also necessary budgetary allocations have been made in the budget itself for implementation of the scheme. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, several schemes aimed at providing healthcare for the poor have been implemented, some of which are Sardar Vallabhbhai Free Medicine Distribution Scheme, Deendayal Antyodaya Upchar Yojna (Medical Insurance), Madhya Pradesh Rajya Beemari Nidhi, Gram Sabha Ad-hoc Health Committees etc., he said. In case of Gujarat, Narendra Modi’s government has taken several steps to create a healthier Gujarat where even the poorest of the poor are taken care of. Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana, 108 Ambulance Services for speedy healthcare at doorsteps, Chiranjeevi Yojana are some of the schemes that have been implemented successfully throughout the state. “It is, therefore, to say that it is the firm commitment of the BJP to provide top quality healthcare to the poor and give them the opportunity to contribute to the development of the country,” he said. The Union Minister also advised people to take health insurance coverage to reduce the burden on health expenditure. He said that in the absence of medical insurance, people end up paying medical expenses from their own pockets. “Millions of people are driven into poverty because of the huge sums that are required to be spent on treatment of certain life threatening diseases. In India, only 12 – 13 per cent of population has medical insurance, in some form or the other, as against the US of 80%. Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure is the highest in India, I understand. There is, therefore, an urgent need to ramp up health insurance coverage,” he advised. Venkaiah Naidu said that besides the government’s and industry’s initiatives to promote health insurance, the medical community could do a lot if they make it as their duty to educate and encourage their patients to go for medical insurance. The Union Minister said that it is difficult to balance quality and cost-effectiveness in healthcare sector and often, allegations of profit maximization are leveled against corporate/private hospitals. “Public expenditure on healthcare in India is abysmally low at 1.2% of the GDP. This is far lesser than many of the developing nations. India spends less than that of Nigeria! The private sector spends in India are more than double that of the government spends. The absence of government healthcare forces individuals to spend money out-of-pocket. It is estimated that health spends forces 39 million people each year into poverty. India has one of the highest out-of-pocket health care expenditure at 60%,” he said. “Established by a group of distinguished doctors with very high expertise and skills, Landmark Hospitals, I am sure, will become one of the best administered healthcare facilities in the city,” he hoped. Kukatpally MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao and Rayachoti MLA Srikant Reddy were also present in the inaugural function.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 14:35:39 +0000
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