Health remains a blind spot: IMA

NEW DELHI: Indian Medical Association (IMA) said that union Budget presented in the Loksabha yesterday is a huge disappointment. The public funding remains at 1.2 % of GDP . Health remains the only subject which Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has preferred to downplay. There is no clarity of enhancement of investment in Ayushman Bharat PMJAY either.nn”The atmosphere of violence in our hospitals is directly due to inadequacy of infrastructure and human resources in public sector and out of pocket expenditure in private sector .15.4% higher allocation is a myth and provides for only the inflation. There is absolutely no indication of any vision towards raising the Public Health expenditure to 2.5 % of GDP,” IMA said in a statement.nn”Allocation of Rs. 2,000 crore for converting district hospitals into new medical colleges and Rs. 1,361 crore for strengthening government medical colleges (MBBS) are however the only silver streaks among the lack lustre budget. Even this allocation is highly inadequate considering fact that the number of district hospitals in the country is atleast 763. 2-3 crores per district hospital will be inadequate for any meaningful change,” it said.nnIMA is willing to partner the Government in Wellness centres if the Government wishes to provide services under a medical doctor. Clinical services from clinicians will ensure patient care and safety. Non clinicians providing clinical care will actually be part of the problem rather than a solution. IMA is also concerned that the sub-centres which were created for Public Health aims are being converted into dispensaries.nIn fact, a parallel system is being evolved.nn”Had the Government extended the Insurance Coverage under Ayushman Bharat tonprimary care, thousands of clinics and small hospitals situated in rural and semi urbannarea would have participated. This would have made both the Ayushman Bharat and the small hospitals viable and sustainable,” according to IMA.nnIMA is concerned that the small and medium hospitals will be decimated with the current design of Health Care.IMA demands review of the concept and operational aspects of Ayushman Bharat while demanding more allocation for Health. IMA also addresses the people of the nation to exert pressure on their MPs to increase the public spending on Health.