Sir — It is unfortunate that the Union Government is planning to cut the health budget by 20 per cent. It is pertinent to mention that recently, we marked the 66th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Experts believe that the true test of good governance involves effectively guaranteeing certain rights, which, among others, includes the right to health. With this broad perspective of good governance, the right to health should be recognised as a fundamental human right. For this to become a reality, Government institutions must create the necessary infrastructure to provide adequate and quality healthcare facilities for all, particularly the people who belong to the vulnerable sections of our society, who do not have access to equal rights in respect of suitable medical facilities.
Tragedies like those of 60 women dying at a sterilisation camp in Chhattisgarh or poor senior citizens losing their vision after undergoing a faulty cataract surgery in Punjab, can be avoided if the poor have access to free and adequate healthcare. And, for this, there is a need to enhance, and not to reduce public health spending. One hopes the Government listens.