Experts raise concern over out of pocket expenditure on Healthcare in india

Experts raise concern over out of pocket expenditure on Healthcare in india

The National Level Health Summit on States concludes at mohali

Sky Hawk Times

SAS Nagar, 12th November

 The national level health summit on States’ Perspective regarding Sustainable Development Goals & Universal Health Coverage concluded here today at IISER Mohali. The event was organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab in collaboration with School of Public Health, PGIMER and World Health Organisation-India. This is the first Summit to be organized by any state in India, after the enactment of the Delhi Declaration by the State Secretaries of Health in Delhi during May 2016. 

  The Summit was inaugurated by the Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal. Health Minister Punjab Sh Surjit Kumar Jyani, Union Health Secretary Sh. CK Mishra, Regional Director of WHO (SEARO) Ms. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Representative to India Dr Henk Bekedam Advisor to Government of Punjab Dr KK Talwar, Principal Secretary Health Punjab, Ms Vini Mahajan, Head School of Public Health PGI, Chandigarh Dr Rajesh Kumar and Principal Secretaries (Health) and Health Directors of many states attended the event besides many other senior officers of state of Punjab.

  Chief Minister S. Badal shared various initiatives of Punjab Govt under public health care sector including treatment facilities for diseases like Cancer and other communicable & non communicable diseases. He also spoke regarding the strengthened infrastructure and proactive approach of the state on implementing new schemes and services for the people. He discussed the initiatives like Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna, Cervical Cancer Vaccination for girls, free treatment to all girls below age of 5 years, Stroke Management in hospitals, Free Hepatitis-C treatment in Govt hospitals, 1st 24 hour free treatment in emergencies of Govt hospitals and many more services.  He laid major emphasis on preventive aspect of diseases especially life style diseases.  

    Sh Surjit Kumar Jyani Health Minister highlighted the achievements of Punjab Government in setting up shops for dispensing free drugs in all public health facilities, increasing the number of doctors and specialists, and services like free institutional deliveries to all pregnant women and free medicines etc. 

  Ms. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO SEARO highlighted the need for strengthening inter-sectoral coordination in order to ensure that the population health is promoted. Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India outlined the high out-of-pocket expenditures as one of the biggest challenges facing India’s health sector which pushes between 40-60 million households below poverty every year. He stressed on the need to ensure that health care is made affordable for the poor households and lauded the role of the Government of Punjab in protecting poor people suffering from cancer and hepatitis C – which is a novel example not only in India but globally.

   Sh. CK Mishra, Union Health Secretary emphasized that there are several global lessons which can be drawn, but highlighted that the States need to develop local plans which are based on context so that health care services are made accessible, affordable and of good quality. He recognized the Punjab Government’s initiative which is the 1st state in India to launch HPV vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer free to all school going adolescent girls.

  Dr KK Talwar, Advisor to Government of Punjab emphasized on the need for strengthening the quality of medical education so that doctors become competent to meet the health care needs of the population. He lauded the efforts of the Centre for setting up the NEET examination which would make the selection process fair and competitive.

  Ms Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health Punjab said the Summit was attended by more than 500 delegates from 20 states in India. Senior Government officers including the Principal Secretaries of Health from 6 states, Director Health Services, Mission Directors and others participated in the Summit. The Summit marked participation from several organizations including PGIMER, AIIMS, Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Gates Foundation, USAID, ICMR-Department of Health Research, CMC Ludhiana, GIZ, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, TISS-Mumbai, Delhi University, SEWA Gujarat, HISP India and the Imperial College, London. A Punjab Health Care Portal developed by Department of Health and family Welfare and HISP-India for the citizens of Punjab to provide them with information of all health care facilities, services provided and the cost of procedures that would help them in obtaining services was launched besides an MoU for setting up an Advanced Cancer Institute at Bhatinda by collaboration of the Baba Farid University and the Tata Memorial Cancer.

Others present on the occasion included Sh Barjinder Singh Brar, Chairman PHSC, Sh Hussan Lal, Secretary Health cum MD-PHSC Punjab, Sh Vikas Garg, Special Secretary Health, Dr H.S Bali, Director Health Services, Punjab, Dr Dharampal, Director Family Welfare, Punjab, Dr Gulshan Rai, Director ESI.