Chapter 2 – Role of Government in Health
- What is Health? (What is Health?)
- Health doesn’t just mean being free from diseases or not getting hurt.
- It deals with all the factors that influence us to stay active and in a good mood.
- Essential for Good Health:
- To be free from diseases and injuries.
- Clean drinking water.
- Pollution-free environment.
- Enough food.
- Accommodation (living space).
- Freedom from mental stress.
- Healthcare in India
The state of healthcare in India is mixed:
- Positive Aspects :
- India has the highest number of medical colleges and it produces a large number of doctors.
- India is the fourth largest producer of medicines and a major exporter of medicines in the world.
- A large number of medical tourists come to India for treatment as the medical services here are cheaper as compared to other countries.
- Negative Aspects:
- Most of the doctors settle in urban areas, there are not enough doctors in rural areas.
- Despite the large number of doctors, the number of doctors per capita in India is low.
- People living in rural areas have to travel long distances and there are not enough health centres for basic health facilities.
- Nearly half of the population in India does not have access to clean drinking water, leading to water-borne diseases.
- India bears the second largest burden of communicable diseases in the world.
- We are unable to provide adequate healthcare facilities for all.
- Healthcare and Equality
- Healthcare services are not equally available to everyone in India.
- Private Healthcare Services:
- There are more in urban areas.
- They are very expensive and not everyone can afford them.
- These include doctor’s consultation fees, cost of medicines, and hospitalization expenses.
- They are based on profits.
- Public Healthcare Services:
- They are run by the Government.
- These hospitals and health centers work as a chain that covers both rural and urban areas.
- These healthcare services are provided free of cost or at a very low cost.
- Their main objective is to provide health services to all citizens, especially the poor and underprivileged.
- Problems: Overcrowding, long queues, lack of facilities.
- Cost of Healthcare
- The cost of private healthcare in India is very high.
- Many people, especially in rural areas, cannot afford these services.
- This puts a huge financial burden on poor families and sometimes they end up in debt.
- Often poor families are forced to sell land or take loans to save their lives.
- Difference between Public and Private Healthcare Services
| speciality | Public Health Services | Private Health Services | |
| (i) Provider | Government run (hospitals, health centers) | Private Doctors, Hospitals, Nursing Homes | |
| (ii) Cost | Free or very low cost services | Very expensive services
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| (iii) Objectives | Providing health services to all citizens | Mainly making profit
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| (iv) Location | In both rural and urban areas | Mainly in urban areas | |
| (v) Quality | There may be overcrowded, long queues, but basic amenities are available | High-quality features and tools are often available | |
| (vi) Access | More accessible to the poor | More accessible to the rich | |
- What to do to stay healthy? (What to do for Good Health?)
- Sanitation: Maintain cleanliness around you.
- Clean Drinking Water: Drink safe water.
- Adequate and Nutritious Food: Eat a balanced diet.
- Pollution Control : Help in reducing pollution.
- Regular Exercise: Do physical activity to stay healthy.
- Basic Health Facilities: Take advantage of the health services provided by the government.
- Responsibility of the Government
- According to the Constitution, it is the primary duty of the government to provide health services.
- The government must ensure the welfare of all citizens, including the right to health.
- States/countries like Kerala and Costa Rica have set good examples in healthcare:
- Kerala Model: The Kerala government gave a significant portion of its budget to panchayats to enable them to plan for basic amenities such as water, food, health, and education.
- Costa Rica Model: Costa Rica disbanded its army and used that money to provide health, education, and other basic amenities to its people. He stipulated in his constitution that the country needs clean drinking water, sanitation, nutrition, and housing to stay healthy.