On 5th April, 2013, was invited to lead the discussions on a healthcare policy meeting of a fast emerging political party
The following discussion points i put forth for the kind consideration of the committee ;
Three key components for reform:
Systems
Service
Staff
Key challenges :
longevity of life
Expenses as budgetary allocation
Timely and quality interventions
Preventive promotive and curative health care
Child health
Chronic diseases
Rural health
Technological interventions
Role of pharmacists and nurses
Private community partnership-sector
Outcomes with patient satisfaction
Health is not a standalone topic
Four pillars of public health . Hygiene , water , sanitation and nutrition
Protocols & treatment guidelines
Soft skills
Tax on unhealthy products and foods
Challenge is huge country , diverse population , demographics and poor infrastructure .
Why doctors don’t go to rural india ? Poor infrastructure for families and staying locally coupled with no infrastructure for operations in rural
Several solutions few execution is the problem
Following inputs were given in the format the party needed ( Point wise );
Primary care :
1. Rural healthcare centres be accessible 24 X 7 using technology – Health Helplines
2. Mobile applications on phones connected to ASHA workers etc
3. Clinic on Ambulance model
4. 75 % of the funding of healthcare should go to Primary care
Refer the article on primary care
Child Health
1. Incorporate health in school curriculum from class IV onwards
2. Pictorial charts and audio-visual films to teach hygiene and health
3. Health parameters be reported in annual and six monthly report cards
4. Junk foods be banned in and around school premises
5. Calorific and nutritional value be written on every packaged food items in relation to RDCA
6. 3 % of the curriculum marks be allocated to health of the student
7. Health & Hygiene be included in school curriculum as an exam based paper from class 4th onwards
Health IT
1. All programs must be backed by an IT backbone
2. Mobile health record ( PHR ) as an alternative to electronic health record be linked to Aadhaar card
3. Reporting , surveillance and monitoring all programs through live data reporting at the taluka, district and national level
4. Standards and protocols for all the treatments be issued , so that the AAM AADMI is not fleeced by unscrupulous people in the name of healthcare / treatment
5. All village sub centres be connected via telemedicine and mobile healthcare
6. At least 2 % of the healthcare budgets be spent on Healthcare IT
Chronic diseases
1. Mass screenings be made available through pharmacies across the nation for diabetes , hypertension & obesity
2. Disease Management Programs be launched for all chronic diseases
3. mobile health be used for chronic disease management
4. Those with habits of smoking and drinking should have a higher co-pay to seek universal healthcare benefits , so that the healthy should not subsidise the ‘irresponsible’ sick people
5. Companies spending on wellness should be given incentives
Public health :
1. Focus on healths should be centred on wellness and not just on treatment
2. 75 % of the health budget should be spent on prevention and promotion
3. Corporate and five-star hospitals in urban india / metros should be taxed (levied 5% surcharge ) to subsidise the healthcare delivery in rural India
4. Set up the epidemiological data
We should change the slogan from ‘Health for all’ to ‘All for Health’
