NITI Aayog against free health care, bats for more private sector role | Business Standard News
NITI Aayog against free health care, bats for more private sector role | Business Standard News
My VIEW:
My VIEW:
More such views are
likely to emerge as planning and policy formulation become part of arithmetical
exercise dependent on IT software and comparisons are with situations in
countries with high literacy rate, populations ranging from 50 lakhs to less
than ten crore and per capita income much higher than India.
likely to emerge as planning and policy formulation become part of arithmetical
exercise dependent on IT software and comparisons are with situations in
countries with high literacy rate, populations ranging from 50 lakhs to less
than ten crore and per capita income much higher than India.
The Kolkatta declaration
(February 2010) made a plea to convert the constitutional guarantees on human
rights which include right to life and therefore right to minimum healthcare
into public services. The updated (draft) National Health Policy keeps this
suggestion in view, when it proposes increase in public expenditure on
healthcare. A country which has less than $3 as ‘prescribed’ minimum wage for a
day’s job, cannot easily discontinue subsidizing immunisation programmes, food
and healthcare. The intervention should not be seen as subsidy, but as a price
nation has to pay for a perverted wage regime it supports indirectly.
(February 2010) made a plea to convert the constitutional guarantees on human
rights which include right to life and therefore right to minimum healthcare
into public services. The updated (draft) National Health Policy keeps this
suggestion in view, when it proposes increase in public expenditure on
healthcare. A country which has less than $3 as ‘prescribed’ minimum wage for a
day’s job, cannot easily discontinue subsidizing immunisation programmes, food
and healthcare. The intervention should not be seen as subsidy, but as a price
nation has to pay for a perverted wage regime it supports indirectly.
The only way to reduce
subsidies would be to have a more realistic wages, prices and income policy.
Essentially that would mean transfer of a higher share of profits by industry
to workers and governments(at Centre and states) ensuring reasonable prices for
agricultural produce, enhancing minimum wage from the present low level and
rationalising prices of processed items with some relationship to value
addition.
subsidies would be to have a more realistic wages, prices and income policy.
Essentially that would mean transfer of a higher share of profits by industry
to workers and governments(at Centre and states) ensuring reasonable prices for
agricultural produce, enhancing minimum wage from the present low level and
rationalising prices of processed items with some relationship to value
addition.
NITI Aayog can play a
proactive role by changing its focus to the Indian context from international
comparisons which are not relevant at this stage of development.
proactive role by changing its focus to the Indian context from international
comparisons which are not relevant at this stage of development.
M
G Warrier, Mumbai
G Warrier, Mumbai
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