Government to enter into strategic engagement with the private sector
Union health minister J P Nadda on Thursday said that if the government is to enter into strategic engagement with the private sector as envisaged in the National Health Policy 2017, it is imperative that the issue of credibility (of the private sector) be attended to. The remarks come in the backdrop of action against corporate hospitals by the governments of Delhi and Haryana.
To serve the masses, the governmental delivery systems should integrate with the private healthcare to reach out people who are cut off from the mainstream
Inaugurating the 14th India Health Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Nadda said, “At this turbulent time in the Indian healthcare system, stakeholders must sit together to sort out the differences to evolve a policy framework that should address how to provide affordable universal healthcare to the citizens. At the same time,it is important to keep high the credibility and respect of the medical profession. To serve the masses, the governmental delivery systems should integrate with the private healthcare to reach out people who are cut off from the mainstream.”
The issue of alleged malpractices by corporate hospitals and the lack of adequate regulatory framework in health has been a matter of grave public concern ever since news came out that parents of 7-year-old Aadya Singh who died of dengue had been handed a Rs 15 lakh bill by Fortis Hospital Gurugram. Soon afterwards, there was a mistake by Max Hospital doctors when they declared a living baby dead. Both hospitals now face punitive action.
The medical community he emphasised, needs to communicate more effectively with people to deal with the trust deficit. “You cannot afford to live in silos. The challenges, impediments and advantages India possesses in the medical system should be communicated to the general public. At the same time, the medical community should be aware of the imponderables being faced by those who are seeking medical help, particularly from the point of view of cost. Such meaningful interfaces can take the medical profession to its pristine glory,” he added.
Nadda said that the NDA government has ended the earlier trend of year-end cuts in healthcare budget. The expenditure is increasing every successive year since 2014. For the year 2017-18, the budgeted expenditure is 27.5% higher than the previous year. Of that, more than 70% has already been spent, he said.
In his welcome address, Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman, CII Healthcare Council and CMD, Medanta-The Medicity offered to the minister that the industry would sit together with the minister after the Winter Session of Parliament to thrash out some solutions.
Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman & Founder, Narayana Healthcare laid emphasis on reforming medical education and said that the MBBS doctors should be trained and oriented to perform more responsibilities since under the present rules and regulations. Their present role in the healthcare system is peripheral, he said.
