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2015 to identify key challenges in terms of lack of adequate healthcare protection to the population, and find solutions to address these gaps. The recommendations made by the experts at these roundtables were summarized in two Consultation
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Papers‘ Addressing NCDs in India Through Innovation and Multi- Sectoral Response’ and‘ Innovative Models of Healthcare Financing for a Healthier India’ and presented to several key policy makers and others during the subsequent one-onone meetings.
A significant part of PFCD’ s work in India has been on policy recommendations to the Draft National Health Policy. Encouraged by the responses from the stakeholders to move towards an evidence-based action plan, PFCD started work on a National Blueprint in early 2015. SANKALP – DishaSwastha Bharat Ki was released in October 2015 at New Delhi. This evidence-based document was an attempt to facilitate the government, healthcare implementers- both at the public as well as private establishments- to adopt innovative programs for prevention and control of NCDs in India and advance the momentum for reforms at the state level. In the coming months, we are looking to build momentum for
health reform efforts at the state level and build capacity through sharing of best practices, and alliance building with organizations, both public as well as private. We plan to sharpen the focus on states in India which are heavily burdened by NCDs. Further,
India spends a little over one per cent of its GDP, a meager figure which has led the majority of Indians to pay almost 60- 70 per cent of healthcare expenses out-of-pocket. India’ s public spending on health is one of the lowest in the world.
we plan to undertake a comparative impact assessment of NCDs on the socio-economic well-being of a community, before and after an inclusive and sustained programme implementation to control the growth of NCDs.
Should the government increase its health spending or the big corporate should chip in their support for health initiatives? Increasing investments in healthcare is the need of the hour for India to overcome its high disease burden. Global evidence suggests that unless a country spends at least six per cent of its GDP on healthcare, basic healthcare needs are seldom met. India spends a little over one per cent of its GDP, a meager figure which has led the majority of Indians to pay almost 60-70 per cent of healthcare expenses out-of-pocket. India’ s public spending on health is one of the lowest in the world.
There are close to 12 million people in India’ s workforce. The probability of death during the most productive years( ages 30-70) from one of the four main NCDs is a staggering 26 per cent, hampering not only health but also the productivity and work output. A disproportionate people in India are suffering from poor health and frequent illness, leading to absenteeism at workplace, lack of attention and lower productivity. All these factors are inversely proportional to the country’ s growth.
The corporates can contribute towards building healthy workplaces. They can introduce annual medical check-up camps for employees, construct adequate pathway within the campus to encourage walking, providing healthy eating options and refrain from providing aerated beverages and junk food during official meetings. These efforts will not only help the employees, but also the companies in enhancing productivity and reducing time spent on medical leave.
Public funding and adequate allocation of resources in the healthcare system are vital in providing affordable access to healthcare services and facilities. Models of public and private healthcare financing can work in collaboration to cater to the unique needs of the diverse population in India. PPP will help the government ensure greater healthcare coverage. Through a mix of public and private initiatives, the government can promote an efficient use of resources for training, medical education, diagnostic equipment and preventive care delivery requirements.
India needs to work on increasing investment in healthcare at the federal as well as state levels. The National Blueprint, SANKALP has already outlined the need for India to increase the current expenditure on healthcare from 1.1 per cent of the GDP to at least 2.5-3 per cent, with an increased focus on preventing and treating NCDs.
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BioVoiceNews | June 2016