World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the government’s National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) a turning point for India’s healthcare. This statement came when the WHO official spoke at a well-attended Niti Aayog meeting, in the presence of its CEO Amitabh Kant, and health secretary Preeti Sudan among others.
Calling NHPS a ‘bold and ambitious plan’, Ghebreyesus said that it has the potential of lifting people out of poverty. He was also all praise for the country’s achievement in completely getting rid of maternal and neonatal tetanus, as well as yaw.
There were also some areas of improvement which were pointed out. The Director General mentioned infant mortality and unequal access to medical care as the challenges that are before the Indian government.
He pointed out that the NHPS scheme, with its commitment to universal health coverage, diagnostics at public health facilities, provision of free drugs and strengthening of primary healthcare will lead to better access to healthcare as well as a reduction in out-of-pocket medical expenses. Even the government’s commitment to increase expensditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, was seen as a positive step towards the betterment of healthcare in India.
WHO views the investment in healthcare, as an investment for a safer future. This is because, the organisation sees universal health care and national health security as an inextricable part of each other. Closer and better access to medical care allows detection and prevention of outbreaks at their intial stages, thus preventing them from spreading and causing further havoc.
*Source: Live Mint
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