Increase budget for better health services in State: IMA V-P

Karimnagar: Healthcare is not considered as a fundamental right yet in India. Despite lucrative investments in the industry, it still remains unaffordable in many parts of the country, says Dr BN Rao. The governments both at the Centre and State share equal responsibility in restructuring and financing this sector for a better future, he adds.

Private hospitals in Telangana are yet to receive a sum of 1,200 crore from the government. This has led to certain distress among the private hospitals making it difficult for them to maintain the necessary standards, he says. Interview with IMA president Dr BN Rao

What should be done to improve services in government hospitals?

Giving top priority to the common public health care is the need of the hour which is possible only when health ministry improves the primary health centers and government hospitals across the State.

Infrastructure in all government hospitals and primary health centers need to be improved. Doctors and paramedical staff are to be appointed adequately. Doctor's salary should be substantially increased to motivate them to join and stay in the government hospitals. It is also important to increase the salaries of paramedical staff. Rural doctors are to be paid more than the doctors working in cities and towns.

How the people's confidence can be restored in govt hospitals?

When the government improves the quality of patient services on par with private hospitals, people repose confidence in government run hospitals. Taxes on life saving drugs should be reduced to give solace to the common man.

Government should focus on preventive healthcare "vaccination, preventing tuberculosis, leprosy and other contagious diseases" and bringing health awareness through social media about NCDS. Improving quality of education in private medical colleges is very much needed. Importance should be given to Family Planning programme.

On the whole 25% of the healthcare is provided by government and the rest by private health sector. Hence, government should encourage PPP model in health care industry. Is staff crunch in government hospitals harming the health services in govt hospitals

As per WHO norms, doctors and patients ratio is supposed to be 1:1000, but as of now in our country it is 1:10,000 and not to mention about the ratio of nurses and paramedical.

India is short or more than 6 lakhs qualified doctors and more than 20 lakhs nurses by which we can make out the shortage of doctors and nurses. The very purpose of introducing Aarogyasree is to make available corporate medical services to common man which is possible only when small and medium hospitals are given Aarogyasree permission.

Is very unfortunate that government is not clearing the Aarogyasree bills regularly there by corporate hospitals and other network hospitals are in facing financial crisis which may lead to closure of such hospitals or they may stop the patient services under Aarogyasree scheme .

What do you demand from the government to do?

On behalf state IMA, we request the government to double the health budget from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs10,000 crore to improve the health care system in our State which is of paramount importance.

National Health Mission programme, funds contributed by the State and Center, are not working as effective as it is suppose to be with the result that allotted funds are not being spent completely. The reason being inadequate para-medical employees and hence the number of para-medical employees are to be increased said, Dr. Bandaru Narender Rao.