- Prelims: Current events of national importance, WHO, NCDs, G20, age tax, mortality, fertility rate, AI, robotic surgery etc
- Mains GS Paper I & II: Development and management of social sectors/services related to Health and education etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- World Health Day is observed every year on April 7
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared health to be a fundamental human right.
- The theme this year is “My Health, My Right”.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Health:(WHO)
- A certain totality of health to the realms of mental and social well-being and happiness beyond physical fitness, and an absence of disease and disability.
- We cannot achieve health in its wider definition without addressing health determinants.
Non-communicable Diseases(NCD’s):
Health status around the globe:
- Over 140 nations recognise health as a constitutional right
- WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All reports that more than half the world’s population needs complete access to essential health services.
Health equity:
- It ensures that every person has an equal opportunity to achieve their highest health potential, no matter what their circumstances.
- It recognises social, economic, and environmental factors impact on health outcomes.
- True health equity addresses the root causes of health inequities such as:
- poverty
- discrimination
- limited access to high-quality education
- healthy diet
- clean water and fresh air
- housing
- For example, a child born into poverty in a rural area has no access to clean water, wholesome food, or immunisations, which lays the foundation for chronic health problems.
Global challenges:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has starkly revealed that infectious diseases target marginalized and vulnerable groups the most, thus widening the health equity gap.
- Climate change poses a serious health risk since it disproportionately impacts low-income and vulnerable people.
- The health-care provision is severely hampered by conflicts, which destroy infrastructure, uproot communities, and shut off access to vital medical services.
India’s health equity challenges:
● According to the 2011 Census, urban slums make up over 17% of India’s metropolitan areas, and exhibit serious health disparities.
○ Health risks are increased by overcrowding, poor sanitation, and restricted access to clean water.
○ Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, are 1.5 times more common in slums than in non-slum areas(Indian Council of Medical Research)
● National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21) data indicates that Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes experience higher child mortality and lower immunization rates.
● 59% of women in the lowest wealth quintile suffer from anemia
○ Almost double the rate in the highest quintile, demonstrating the intersection of caste, gender, and economic status in health outcomes.
● Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for more than 60% of all fatalities in India.
● The Public Health Foundation of India: economic effect of NCDs could surpass $6 trillion by 2030.
● Critical shortage of doctors: WHO data indicates only 0.8 doctors per 1,000 people, which is below the advised ratio.
○ Over 75% of health-care professionals work in metropolitan regions, which only account for 27% of the population
○ The shortage is particularly severe in rural areas.
○ If other medical practitioners are considered, the ratio might be balanced.
What steps need to be taken?
- India’s health equity issues require a comprehensive approach beyond improvements in health-care facilities to address more extensive socioeconomic determinants of health.
- To move India toward universal health coverage and a more equitable future, the government, civil society, health-care providers, and communities need to work together.
- Governments and officials may influence the state of health through funding, creative policies, and laws.
- For instance, India’s Ayushman Bharat initiative provides free health coverage to the bottom 40% economically, demonstrating a commitment to reducing health disparities.
- The National Health Mission (NHM), which includes both the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), reduces the health-care gap between rural and urban India by:
- expanding access
- strengthening infrastructure
- providing essential services to vulnerable populations.
- India should turn health equality into a shared, community-driven goal by including health education in the NHM, enabling its people to seek equitable care and make educated health decisions.
- Together with the government, the public and private health-care sectors provide services to underprivileged communities, emphasizing preventive education, workforce development, and infrastructure enhancement.
- Non-governmental organizations and civic societies engage in direct community outreach to draw attention to and resolve regional health concerns.
- Their collaboration with international and governmental organizations allows them to tailor health initiatives that are culturally sensitive to the community’s unique needs.
- International institutions such as WHO, the Global Fund, and Gavi support health initiatives in places with limited resources and promote sharing information and resources to enhance health-care systems, especially in countries such as India.
- Through innovation and technical growth, particularly in digital health, the commercial sector and charitable organizations advance accessibility and affordability while extending reach and efficacy.
- Research institutes and academic institutions offer crucial insights into health inequalities and the efficacy of interventions, assisting in creating evidence-based practices and policies supported by scientific studies.
Way Forward
- To guarantee that everyone may live a healthy life, attaining health equity necessitates a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond legislative reform to address the socioeconomic determinants of health.
- Realizing each person’s potential for health demands a concerted effort by governments, communities, and individuals to tear down these obstacles.
- Organizations with a strong local presence are essential for health equity.
- They actively participate in every phase, from planning to evaluation, to guarantee the relevance and effectiveness of health programmes.
- They have a thorough understanding of their community’s requirements.
- Effective collaboration among many sectors, ranging from policymakers to grassroots organizations, may significantly enhance health equity and pave the path for a time when access to high-quality health care would be a shared reality rather than a privilege.
- India has made strides in AI applications for health care: It must continue to invest in research and development, foster collaborations between academia and industry, and create an ecosystem that encourages innovation.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
Besides being a moral imperative of the Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.” Analyze.(UPSC 2021) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
