No vision for health, healthcare in Union Budget: Docs

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 5

Medical fraternity has labelled the Budget 2019 as the most disappointing budget in years.

“At least in recent memory, we got first oration from a finance minister regarding a budget that does not have a single word about health, very surprising and painful omission. The Finance Minister lays out the vision and if that is true, we have to assume that the government has no vision for health and healthcare. The absence of any reference to healthcare after tragedies of Gorakhpur and Muzaffarpur is shocking,” said Dr GS Grewal, former president of Punjab Medical Council and core committee member of Alliance of Doctors on Ethical Healthcare (ADEH).

“There is no intention to empower public healthcare system, so we fear that Gorakhpur and Muzaffarpur would continue to happen,” said Dr Arun Mitra, core committee member of ADEH.

The medical care is left to unregulated private healthcare sector. And sadly, the Finance Minister does not even think of health when presenting the highlights in Parliament. So, the sad story of passive privatisation that began 30 years back continues, rather with enhanced zeal. Healthcare has been left to market forces, hence the government is only bent on increasing coverage. Nowhere near horizon is the concept of universal health care, said Dr Grewal and Dr Mitra.

The budget for 1,00,000 fitness and wellness clinics has been increased from Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 1,600 crore which is very inadequate, they said.

“The Budget for upgrading district hospitals has been slashed from Rs 3,168 crore to Rs 2,000 crore, and money has been diverted to increase UG and PG seats in the existing medical colleges. We fear that this is in tune with the Niti Ayog’s recommendation to hand over district hospitals to private companies so that they could run private medical colleges,” added Dr Grewal.