Without strengthening health infrastructure and public health system in Odisha, the State Government has been announcing programme after programme even without taking care of budgetary provisions, said health campaigners at Bhubaneswar.
"When we don't have adequate doctors, diagnosis centres, infrastructure and adequate supply of free medicines, how it would be rational to implement new schemesIJ Rather it will only serve the purpose of vested interests in health sector," said Jana Swasthya Aviyan, a conglomeration of health activists, convenor Gouranga Mahapatra.
During the last couple of years, the State Government has announced programmes like the Biju Swasthya Bima Yojana, Nidan, Sampurna, Khushi, Sunetra and Sahayog etc. without even thinking of its financial and budgetary implications.
There has been apprehension all over on how it will benefit people at large and especially, strengthening public health in rural and remote areas, he said.
The Government needs to lay a basic system to provide free diagnosis, free medicines and free treatments so that public health will be universal, he demanded.
Apart from these whereas the Union Government has enforced the Clinical Establishment Act 2010, the State Government is yet to adhere to the Central legislation. Hence, regulation on private operators on health sector, besides ensuring patients rights and privileges are missing. Odisha should immediately go for amendments or re-enact the Clinical Establishment Act without further delays, demanded the campaigners.
The Biju Swasthya Bima Yojana has been announced merging with the Biju Krushaka Kalyan Yojana and the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana that will benefit 70 lakh people in the State.
But the Central Government's Ayusham Yojana is set to include only 61lakh people. That is the reason Odisha rejected the Central scheme.
Odiaha must ensure mechanism to support the effective implementation of the schemes, said the activists.
The Jana Swasthya Abhiyan in collaboration with the Malaysia-based International Budger Solidarity Partnership held a seminar here.
The organisation decided to spearhead a State wide campaign and will hold meeting in all 30 districts. The meeting also decided to undertake a study on the health facilities available in PHC and CHC levels.
It was also decided to participate in International Health Assembly in Dhaka scheduled to be held in December and the National Health Assembly to be held in Raipur from September 21 to 24.
