INDIA TO CUT HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE BY 20% There were high hopes of the government finally focusing on improving the health sector, as it had been an important component of the BJPs election manifesto. Coming as quite the contrary, the government has slashed the health budget by 20% (6000crore). Considering the fact that India only spends 1% of its current GDP on healthcare as it is, a further budget cut in this sector can lead to some grave repercussions. It is noteworthy that Indias spending on healthcare is already among the lowest in the world - China spends 3% and the US 8.5% of their respective GDPs. Healthcare in India is already dominated by private organizations and the government network is sub-par at best. The budget cut will tend to gravitate the masses towards private healthcare, while reducing chances for the health ministry to improve government health infrastructure, especially in rural areas. This puts the poorest at the mercy of the expensive and often unscrupulous private healthcare providers. This decreased spending puts various disease control initiatives at risk; for example, the HIV/AIDS control program, which is facing a 30% cut as part of this overall reduction. India also has one of highest infant mortality rates, mostly due to preventable diseases but lack of resources to check them. Its anyones guess how the healthcare spending cut will affect these health initiatives. Most of us who read this article have probably never set foot in a government hospital. We can afford private healthcare. But let us remember that India is home to more than 120crore poorest of the poor. People for whom government healthcare is the only option. The Modi government is taking this action to achieve its 2014 -15 fiscal deficit target of 4.1% of GDP. But is the price of the progress to be paid with peoples health? A Logical Indian wouldnt agree. Basic governmental priorities such as health and education must not be sidelined. Surely, cancelling or setting aside projects such as the Rs. 3000Cr Statue of Unity would have made more sense than slashing healthcare expenditure? Source: India Times
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 15:10:09 +0000
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