Medical fraternity makes key suggestions for health policy

NEW DELHI: Even as the Modi government is formulating a national health policy, the medical fraternity has suggested acute medical care be provided free along with care for the elderly, adult vaccination and standardized emergency care.

The suggestions drawn up on January 18 by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and representatives of CAMSI (Confederation of Associations of Medical Specialists of India) would be submitted to the government for the policy.

The Draft National Health Policy 2015 comes up after almost 12 years. It cites three main reasons — changing health needs, government's inadequate healthcare expenditure and high out-of-pocket expenditure by people - for formulating it.

Comments from various stakeholders have been sought for the policy, which suggests making health a fundamental right, similar to education, and raising public health expenditure to 2.5% from 1.2% of GDP.

IMA secretary general Dr K K Aggarwal told TOI his organization plans to come out with a health policy focusing on illness to wellness, incorporating geriatrics, adult vaccination, gay and third gender issues.

The suggestions being forwarded to the government include life care immunization as well.

The government's public health programme presently includes universal immunization, which is centered majorly on children.

There is growing need for vaccination against flu, pneumonia, tetanus and hepatitis as the elderly population is increasing.

Aggarwal said daycare and homecare needs to be promoted to reduce burden on hospitals in terms of beds, and chances of hospital-acquired infections, hospitalization days and expenses.

This is particularly important for long-term and elderly care, daycare surgeries. Angioplasty and stenting can be done as daycare now, Aggarwal stated.

The fraternity has suggested the shortage of beds can be tackled by including, recognizing and accrediting the concept of daycare and homecare in the main healthcare delivery system, while IMA can work with the government to find solutions for lack of doctors in rural areas.

The IMA guidelines say government should provide affordable quality healthcare, drugs and devices to every citizen. To avoid patients from being over-charged, hospitals should not insist that they buy from their pharmacy at higher prices.

"While magnitude of care may differ, the standards of care should be same at every level of health care,'' the guidelines say, adding private sector providing emergency care should be reimbursed by the state governments.