The first hundred days of the new BJP-led
coalition Government in office are over. Up against a
host of chronic and resurgent problems, ranging from
developmental drags to the diplomatic fall-out from the
nuclear tests, the new government’s grappling with
these vital issues, has met with mixed success. It is a
matter of great importance to know whether the
government, beset and hamstrung by political compulsions,
has shown sufficient circumspection, preparedness and
foresight in taking on the crises, in the context of the
nation’s current demographic, socio-economic and
political realities.
The need for a new synergy to revamp and rejuvenate many
of the existing systems of governance, especially the
social sector, is paramount. People have great
expectations from the Government in this area. May be
this concern is reflected in the current Union Budget;
with substantial improvements in plan fund allocations
for example: agriculture increased by 58%, education up
by 50%, welfare up by 91% etc. But mere increase in
allocations alone does not guarantee all-round
prosperity, as much of the hike would be eaten up by the
revised salary bills. Increased allocations are not new.
The crux of the matter is how judiciously the money is
going to be utilized, in the face of the all-prevailing
lethargy and corruption. How far the new budget will help
face the formidable challenges of mass poverty,
illiteracy, ill-health, lack of housing, sanitation and
clean drinking water, unemployment etc.? Only time will
tell. What is urgently needed is a thorough refurbishment
of programme implementation at all levels, supplemented
by commensurable resource inputs.
A steady decline in the public health delivery standards
is a sad fact of life. Among other things, the absence of
a good monitoring and reporting system, i.e. a management
information system, which forms the basis for the
planning and implementation of all welfare initiatives,
has been found wanting in the country. In this
connection, the Report of the "Independent
Commission on Health in India", a commendable
initiative facilitated by the Voluntary Health
Association of India (VHAI), is a bench-mark. It was
indeed a great gesture on the part of the Prime Minister
of India, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, to release this
Report on 13th May 1998 at his residence. His candour and
concern for the health problems confronting the nation
were reflected in his advice to the Health Ministry to
use the Report for evolving newer strategies for future
actions.
A memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister on this
occasion, by the members of the Commission, forms part of
this issue of ‘Health for the Millions’. The
goal of ‘Health for All by 2000 AD’, set by WHO
in 1978, has remained elusive and distant, even as the
world is approaching the end of the millennium. Some of
the early gains noticed have slowed down, and in some
cases, even reversed. The socio-political and economic
obstacles to health are getting more and more manifested
in every day life. Globalization of medical care has not
only brought global technologies and researches at our
door-steps, but also the high medical care costs.
Progress should have a direct correlation with improved
accessibility and affordability of goods and services for
the consumers. This is the voice of the voiceless. The
people-empowering effect of various moves should be
measured in terms of their potential to raise the quality
of life of the people. Has the HFA drive done justice to
this cause is a million dollar question. So WHO took a
re-look at the strategies followed during the past two
decades towards HFA, and has now come out with a new
Draft Policy for achieving the goal at least by 2020 AD.
The document had several new ideas, evolved from many
discussions and meetings. Knowing that the document was
to be discussed at the 11-16 May World Health Assembly,
and once adopted, it would have far-reaching implications
on all nations, VHAI scrutinized the Draft and offered
some constructive suggestions to WHO. This issue of HFM
carries both the Draft Policy and VHAI’s comments on
it.
‘Reproductive and Child Health’ is a relatively
new initiative by the Government to offer comprehensive
maternal and child health. An attempt has been made in
this issue to look at the RCH initiative from a
women’s health point of view. Another topic of great
interest discussed in this issue is the efficacy of the
DOTS strategy in controlling TB, based on first-hand
observations.
India cannot afford to wait any longer for an
environmentally sustainable development paradigm based on
sound economic pragmatism. In this new vision, mundane
ideas meant to favourably influence the lives of the
deprived and less privileged, like the provision of basic
health and education must take precedence over other
contentious issues which may have to wait. "Let every hand give comfort to all living
beings and let it be the giver of health to the whole
mankind"
– Rig Veda
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