Page 180 - economic review

SOCIAL SERVICE152

Draft National Health Policy 2015

4.65 India has drafted National Health Policy, twice ie in 1983 and in 2002 which have guided the
approach towards the health sector in Five-Year plans. Thirteen years after the previous health
policy, the draft National Health Policy 2015, now in the public domain for stakeholders’ suggestions
and comments, has addressed the issues of universal health coverage, reducing maternal mortality
and infant mortality, access to free drugs and diagnosis and changes in laws to make them more
relevant. Salient features of the draft National Health Policy 2015 are;

1. Improve the care delivery system
2. A National Health Rights Act to make health a fundamental Right
3. Denial of health care will be justiciable
4. Raise public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP (Rs.3800 per capita) from current spending

of 1.04 % of GDP (Rs.957 per capita)
5. Creation of health cess on the lines of educational cess
6. Ensure universal access to free drugs and diagnosis in government hospitals
7. States may voluntarily opt to adopt the Act through a resolution in the Legislative Assembly

Draft State Health Policy 2013

4.65 The draft health policy of Kerala Government lays emphasis on improving the health of women
and adolescent girls. It also points out that the government should engage the private sector
healthcare providers within a regulatory framework. The other major proposals in the draft policy
include a unified Kerala Public Health Act, combining the existing Travancore-Cochin Public Health
Act and the Madras Public Health Act and current needs; the setting up of a Public Health Cadre
and Public Health Protection Agency; strategies to reduce maternal and infant mortality through
a framework developed with the support of the Kerala Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence, United Kingdom; strengthening of cancer care and
prevention systems; systems for better trauma care management with dedicated trauma care teams
at district and taluk levels apart from extension of the 108 Ambulance services across the State; a
Medical Establishment Bill 2013 covering registration and regulation of all healthcare institutions; a
data management system leading to an Electronic Health Record; quality in the medical education
sector; research and documentation and quality assurance systems for promotion of Ayurveda
and Homoeopathy systems; and proposals for continued engagement with the private sector for
purchasing services.

Perspective Plan 2030

4.66 The vision of the Perspective Plan 2030 is health for all by 2030. It will provide health security
to each and everyone by 2030. It will have a highly innovative, affordable, and accessible health
system that all Keralites can trust. It will have a health system that is accessible when people need
it, regardless of their ability to pay. The main goals of the Perspective Plan 2030 are;

• Increase the health expenditure to GSDP ratio from 0.6 per cent in 2012 to 4−5 per cent by
2027−31.
• Reduce MMR from 81 to 12 per 1 lakh live births.
• Reduce IMR from 13 to 6 per 1,000 live births.
• Eradicate communicable diseases.
• Prioritise health areas to include mental diseases, alcoholism, and suicides.
• Increase the number of hospital beds from 34.6 per 10,000 in 2004 to 70 per 10,000 by 2030.
• Increase the number of nurses from 12.4 per 10000 in 2004 to 65 by 2030.

Kerala State Planning Board