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Dignitaries at the book launch in Delhi

Book that advocates revamp of public healthcare in India

Rohit Shishodia
'Public Healthcare in India', a book authored by Dr Jugal Kishore, Director-Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, and Mr Sanjay Kumar, Senior Research Assistant, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Delhi, captures the essence of why primary healthcare in general and access to comprehensive healthcare in particular, have failed in India despite the best intentions and plans.

The diligently researched book presents the historical background and current realities of public healthcare in the country.

The book, which has seven chapters, has strong historical grasp from ancient to modern times about attempts to provide comprehensive healthcare.

“This book is meant for policy makers, bureaucracy and planners. If you are making some program without giving any funding, it has no meaning. If total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP continues to be 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 for so many years and you are launching new schemes and you say that we are working for the poor, it is not going to work,” said Dr Kishore.

“We have found that healthcare programs have received inadequate attention from the government and that all of these programs are planned mostly in isolation from one another. We also found that there has been more emphasis on the curative aspect of health compared to preventive healthcare,” said Dr Kishore and Mr Sanjay Kumar.

“Therefore, healthcare system was based on consumption and professionalization leading to its present crisis. It is a tragedy for the nation as this model continues to persist even when is clear it is not sustainable,” they explained.

They said that hence, it is essential for the nation to take a conscious and deliberate decision to abandon this system and strive to create an economically viable alternative to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.

“We have discussed the attitude of bureaucrats regarding the formulation and implementation of policies and how it affects the poor, compromising peasants and the working class, who do not have access to even the basic healthcare available in India,” they added.

The authors say that the striking continuity with regards to health policies in post-independent India illustrates not only the survival of the legacy of colonial rule, but also the mentality of the Indian ruling class that has been utterly insensitive when it comes to the interest of the common people.


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