Author: phmindia_jsa

Press Release on Ayushman Bharat

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PRESS RELEASE Abandon the AB-PMJAY scheme based on the discredited insurance model The recent announcement regarding the launch of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme has raised expectations that the scheme will somehow address the extremely urgent needs regarding healthcare in the country. Expectations have also been raised because of the labeling of the scheme as the ‘largest health protection scheme in the world’ and the promise that beneficiaries will receive Rs.5 lakhs as cost of hospitalization. The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan wishes to point out that the mere assertion that the AB-PMJAY is the largest health protection scheme in the world, does not make it so – in fact it is entirely misleading. The Government’s own National Health Mission has an outlay of around Rs.35.000 crores, many times more than the Rs.2,000 crores allocated for the scheme in the 2018-19 budget. Download press release here.

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Draft People’s Health Manifesto, 2018

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The Jan SwasthyaAbhiyan staunchly upholds the Right to Health and Health Care for all people of India.We are opposed to anti-people steps being taken by the current Government in the health sector. We strongly oppose various negative policy trends such as: the recent national health budgets being reduced in real terms, downgrading of public health services; various retrograde steps concerning the National Health Mission; launching of the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme based on the discredited ‘insurance model’ despite massive evidence against the effectiveness of such insurance based schemes involving major participation of the private sector in service delivery; moves for privatisation of district hospitals and other public health services; continued refusal to ensure effective regulation of the private medical sector,allowing this sectorto continue massive profiteering at the cost of patients, especially by corporate hospitals; lack of comprehensive price control for all essential medicines and unwillingness to regulate unethical marketing practices by the pharmaceutical industry; ongoing exclusion and marginalisation of wide sections of the population related to health services All these steps point to an ominous direction. We oppose the trend of pushing neoliberal policies in the realm of health care, which weakens public systems and leads to rampant marketisation of health services. To realise the right to health for all, requires ensuring a wide range of social determinants of health, along with universalising health care, where a strengthened, accountable, democratized public health system acts as the backbone and leader. In this context, we propose the following policy actions, especially in the context of various upcoming state assembly elections, and parliamentary elections likely in 2019, to be acted uponby all political parties and candidates. This is with the expectation that the parties which come to power should implement these policy measures, and those which serve in the opposition should continue to raise these proposals and demands in all available forums within and outside elected bodies. The Jan SwasthyaAbhiyan will concurrent mobilize and campaign among different sections of the people to build a consensus around the urgent actions we propose. Make the right to health care a justiciable right through the enactment of appropriate legislations both at Central and State levels. Such legislations should ensures universal access to good quality and comprehensive universal health care including the entire range of primary, secondary and tertiary services for the entire population. This must be accompanied by a public health legislation which ensures people’s access to a range of health determinants and protection from health harming influences. These should contribute to the process of making Health and Health care fundamental rights in the Indian Constitution. Increase substantially the public expenditureon Health, financed primarily through general taxation, to 3.5% of GDP (this would be annually around Rs. 4,000 per capita at current rates) in the short term, and 5% of GDP in the medium term, with at least one-third being the contribution from the Centre. Since health is a state subject, and the contribution of states is at the centre much higher than the central contribution, all states should establish a system to monitor expenditure and implementation of activities supported through the state health budget. Further ensure that out of pocket spending on health, which is currently obnoxiously high, is rapidly reduced and becomes less than one-fourth of total health care expenditure. Because of the centralization of fiscal powers at the Centre states have serious financial constraints and this must be addressed by much greater decentralization of fiscal relations between the Centre and States. For example, contrary to claims, an additional 1200 crores has not been allotted for the Health and Wellness Centres and this amount will be deducted from the budget for the National Health Mission, and states will have bear the additional financial burden for these proposed centres. Stop all forms of privatization of Public Health Services. Expand and strengthen the public health care system to ensure quality and availability of health care appropriate to primary, secondary and tertiary level, entirely free of user fees. Ensure that no private practice is undertaken by government doctors at the time of their work as part of public health services. Build and actively promote a predominantly public health system based framework for Universal Health Care(NOT ‘Coverage’). Major expansion and strengthening of public health services could be combined with some in-sourcing of regulated private providers, as an interim mechanism, to cover the current gaps in provisioning.  While doing so the goal would be to maximize the extent and reach of public provisioning over time, while socializing and majorly transforming involved private providers, who would be individual, small and charitable providers, and not corporate hospitals. The direction would be of selectively using private health care resources to strengthen public systems, contrary to the approach of the proposed Ayushman Bharat program of indiscriminately using public resources to strengthen private health care providers. Abandon plans for the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme based on the discredited ‘insurance model’. The projected annual outlay of Rs.12,000-50,000 crores, as per different estimates would be much better utilized by investment in expansion of public facilities and creation of permanent public assets. Absorb existing publicly funded health insurance schemes (RSBY and different state health insurance schemes) into the public health system, supplemented by selective in-sourcingof private providers for filling of service gaps. Regularise all Health Scheme workers and ensure that they receive protection from the entire range of labour laws. All levels of public health system staff shall be provided with adequate skill training, fair wages and placement and all provisions of social security and decent working conditions. Formulate and implement a comprehensive policy on occupational health and safety. Ensure accountability and stringent action against violations. All projects by corporations that can potentially affect health should first receive a ‘health clearance’. Increase public investment in education and trainingof the entire range of health personnelto ensurecapacity building in government run colleges. Establish a well-governed and adequate public health workforce by creating adequate numbers of permanent posts. Put in place stringent mechanisms for regulation of all existing private institutions, such as medical and nursing colleges,

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AP State Peoples Health Assembly

Andhra Pradesh /

Nellore, the Mecca for Peoples Health Activists of Andhra Pradesh hosted Andhra Pradesh Peoples Health Assembly. The assembly was held on 16th September 2018 at Dr JS Vignana Kendram, named after Dr. J. Sesha Reddy, who was a dedicated peoples doctor, a passionate health activist and the architect of Dr. PV Ramachandra Reddy Peoples Poly Clinic. This assembly was held along with Dr. J. Sesha Reddy 10th annual memorial seminar. Dr.  P.  Ajay Kumar, Superintendent of Dr. PVRRPPC People’s Poly Clinic presided over the assembly. Mr. V. Balasubramanyam, MLC and senior leader of Jana Vignana Vedika inaugurated the assembly. He is the floor leader of Progressive Democratic Forum (PDF), a forum of five MLCs who won in the election with the backing of peoples movements. He made a very interesting observation; AP Legislative council is supposed to discuss on health sector in the forthcoming week. But the legislators were requested by the officials, off the records though, not to ask any questions on health issues, since there is no minister for health in the state and the officials are not in a position to give answers! He expressed his regret that at a time when the state is gripped by fevers and so many people were dying helplessly, we do not have a health minister. And then he remarked that since the legislative house is not in a position to discuss peoples health issues and solve the problems, it is appropriate to hold the Peoples Health Assembly at this juncture. He recollected a recent incident, where a nursing mother, who was recovering after delivering a baby, slipped from her bed in the over-crowded maternity ward of Government General Hospiital, Vijayawada and died. He doubted the reliability of morbidity and mortality data of the government of Andhra Pradesh. While the government claims that deaths due to malaria and dengue are very low in the state, doctors in their private conversations are denying the claim, observed the MLC. He gave a call to people, civil society groups and progressive political parties to build peoples health movement to strengthen pubic health systems and ensure Health For All. He expressed his willingness to raise the issues in the legislative council. Mr. Indranil Mukhopadhyaya, from Jan Swasthya Abhiyan made a power point presentation on “National Health Protection Scheme: Peoples money, Private profit and the nemesis of public health system”. He started with explaining the basic concepts of healthcare financing and then went on to analyse how the existing social insurance schemes failed to bring down the out of pocket expenditure of the poor patients. With the help of rich data, he established that these schemes could increase rate of utilisation of private medical facilities and thus helped improving their revenues. With multiple layers of intermediaries, these schemes incur huge amounts of administrative costs, reducing the efficiency of healthcare delivery system. He reminded the audience of the instances of unnecessary  procedures and surgeries like hysterectomies, cataract operations etc. NHPS alias Modi care alias Ayushmann Bharat  is just going to be one such social insurance scheme, of curse at a larger scale, which only means that greater revenues for private and corporate hospitals. It provides a coverage upto Rs.5,00,000 per family per year. Ten crore families will be covered under the scheme. The fact that the scheme was rolled out n the final year of the tenure of the government and that a meagre amount was allotted for the scheme, speaks volumes about the intentions of the government, he observed. Most important problem with the private medical sector is that it is unregulated. Whatever little regulation exists, in the form of Clinical Establishments Act, it doesn’t regulate the prices in the establishments. Handing over huge amounts of money to unregulated private and corporate hospitals will only result in unethical and irrational care. Instead, this money should be spent on strengthening public hospitals. It is also important to improve the efficiency and accountability in public hospitals. Apart from bureaucratic regulation, community participation in monitoring and planning public health services is essential to improve functioning of Public Health Systems, he concluded. He extended his invitation for NHA-3 on behalf of JSA national secretariat the people and health activists of Andhra Pradesh. Ms. Richa Chintan from Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability made a power point presentation on the plight of poor public health systems in India and observed that inadequate budget allocations are one of the most important reasons for this. She narrated how JSA and PBI came together to start a national campaign on strengthening public provisioning of health care in India. In the first phase, the campaign is started in six states, including Andhra Pradesh. She shared good practices and.  Important outcomes of the campaign. While improving the understanding of budget groups on peoples health issues, the campaign deepened the understanding of JSA on budget issues, she observed. She gave call to the health activists to take the issue of inadequate budget allocations to people. When the people understand that they have a right to health and right to access to medical care and that it is denied because of inadequate budget allocations to health, they will join the fight for ‘Health for all’. Dr. V. Brahma Reddy, a veteran public health activist and popular science writer, spoke on the unethical and irrational medical practices. He observed that the governments are intentionally undermining public health systems and promoting private and corporate hospitals. People are being mislead by the dominant perception that only corporate hospitals can give the best medical care. He urged people not to fall into the trap of medical consumerism. He gave a call to all progressive forces to come together and work together against the commercialisation of medical care and undermining of the democratic spaces. Mr. Y Srinivasulu Reddy, PDF MLC released a book titled “Vaidyaniki Susti” which means illness to healthcare. It is the Telugu version of ‘Dissenting Diagnosis’, authored by senior JSA leaders Dr. Arun Gadre and Dr. Abhay Sukla. It

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Report of State Health Assembly, Odisha

Odisha /

The State Health Assembly started with the welcome address of Sri Ajaya Tripathy eminent public health expert of State JSA. Gournaga Mohapatra, Convener JSA, Odisha presided over the inaugural session and briefly presented the objective of the Health assembly and how the JSA born and it’s journey from 1999 to till date. He also informed the participants about the activity undertaken by Odisha JSA to make health for all.  Dr. Madan Mohan Pradhan, Deputy Director Health, Government of Odisha the chief speaker of the programme who has been closely associated with Jan Swasthya Aviyan from the beginning requested to gave the keynote address and set the context of the assembly. He spoke about the initial days of public health movement why it came and how people voices need to raised for appropriate health care.  Government both centers and state have been focusing on schemes. They have been forgetting about comprehensive health care to all. NGOs are becoming project oriented. Projects and funds are necessary but it is not that when they don’t have funds withdrawn from the place saying we have no more funds. That’s like suicidal. In that way, NGOs are doing more harm to the people. NOGs are also working vertically they confined within their project and programme. If they haven’t see the health, education, environment, livelihood in an interrelated manner or never raise the voice in the proper manner and proper time then it will not be possible to stand health for all. Health is not confined with 3Ds (Dieses, Doctor, and Drug). NIRAMAYA needn’t considered as free medicine scheme of Government that is comprehensive health. Each people of the state should live with a healthy life physically, mentally and spiritually. To have that we as a group have to raise the felt health need of people before concerned authorities. For that a strong movement is required and for movement evidence is essential. If the free medicine scheme launched and there are sufficient medicines procured and supply we then have to understand why and how the chemists’ shops are grooming. There is the visible and invisible cause behind every outcome. So, if out of pocket expenditure of common men is increasing then we need to realize what happens underneath. For that, we need to study on that point. Its’ may take as one instance. Certainly, there are ‘N’ number of issues we need to work. India has the unique feature of fighting against growing NCD and communicable diseases those are not inclined to go away. So the double burden has the serious impact on the society as a whole. India is in the bottom line of countries investing in health which is merely one percent. And we can’t imagine with meager on percent the dream like health for all. Tusharkanti Ray senior Public Health Expert told its’ contrary that we have been shuttling between the logic of preventive and curative health care without thinking about the determinants of health. When a small neighboring country can able to give own people the best primary health care and education why not India. WASH, education, road, communication, nutrition, livelihood, environment along with the drugs, doctor, and disease combined form health. So, health can’t think in isolation and we can’t close our eyes to the vicious circle of profit, corruption, exploitations in healthcare sector contributed an increase of poor to poorer population. Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Satapthy, Joint Director Public Health, in his address told he is coming in a short notice and prior to this occasion. He is the State nodal office or non-communicable disease. Out of pocket expenditure increased in non-communicable diseases. Government is all set to introduce an AAP so that patient can know where the service facility is available. Very shortly population base screening will available at people’s point. TB and other lifestyle diseases will be identified in a early stage and treatment can be start immediately.  The timing and facilities everything can access by the patient. There is a huge information gap. In 22 urban PHCs of doctors, medicines and other services are available but people are keeping coming to Capital Hospital. In that way they are losing time, money in travel and increasing caseload in Capital Hospital also hampered the service. He promised for all king of support to JSA in future. Dr. Amit Sengupta told health is our right. It should be the country agenda. Health should get the prominent place. Fact is that malnutrition children are getting diabetes and hypertension at a very tender age. Jan Swastha Aviyan is not only isolating from basic facilities like livelihood, food, nutrition, drinking water, cleanliness etc. Man is not a beast and no man like to live in the filthy place if the situation is not forced on them. But our tendency is victim blaming. Illiterate and uneducated people are not idiots. People need to live with dignity. Giving medical services may help to give health 10% but 90% of health depend on health determinants? Government is emphasizing on maternal health and that also begins when a female conceived. What about women health? What about last 20 years before she gets married? What is primary health institution? Where are 24×7 services? The ASHA and Anganwadi workers are the primary caregivers in the rural pocket. Private health service is becoming the part and partial our life. There is a time when doctors were opening the clinic but today anybody can open a hospital. Tractor Company started Escort Hospital. There is no law to restrict. Doctors are nothing but one part of the entire private health system. Mow Health service is purely commercial. In corporate system, Doctors are nothing but servants to fulfill the quota or target given to them in a month by the owner. In India, people are spending money from their pocket from private health care. We are calling it 70:70 paradoxes. 70% of out of pocket money spending in private healthcare and out of that 70% spend on medicines. Treatment is becoming a market policy. The first session came to an end with vote of thanks given

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Logistics and local arrangements of National health Assembly

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Travel: Railway Station– The railway station for Raipur is ” Raipur Junction Station”.  On getting down at the Raipur railway station you all have to come to Sarvadharma Hanuman Mandir which is on left side of exit of Platform no.1. NHA voulunteers holding flexi/placard/printout of JSA/NHA will be waiting there to guide you to pre-paid auto/taxi/cab/ola cab that can be taken to reach the place of accommodation. In case of any querry, the contact persons for contacting are Amulya Nidhi- 9425311547/9826774739 , Gargeya- 9948971353. Airport- At Raipur airport, NHA volunteers will be waiting near the exit of arrival gate with a placard holding flexi/placard/printout of JSA/NHA. And, the volunteers will guide you to pre-paid cab/ola cab that can be taken to reach the place of accommodation. In any case of any queries, contact Alok- 9930911043 Venue of conference: The main venue of NHA for participants to arrive is Ravindra Manch, Kalibadi Chowk, Raipur. Some of the parallel sessions ( after 11:30 AM everyday) would be happening at Ashirvaad Bhawan and Pastoral house as well. Distance from Raipur airport- 15 km aprx. Distance from Raipur railway station- 3 km aprx. Accommodation: The accommodation for JSA participants is spread across 5 different places. Please find here, the state-wise allocation of accommodation. In addition, the organisers would arrange pickup and drop on the 22nd and 23rd for participants staying in Patidar  Bhawan ( as the place is away from Venue of NHA). Please find the map for both the venue and accommodation :. Food: Breakfast/ Morning Tea/ Lunch/ Evening Tea/Dinner will be provided at the NHA venue. Food would be provided to participants from the night of 21st September to 24th afternoon. Tips for travel- As it might rain, please do carry your rain coat/umbrella etc. Kindly carry your Blanket, Bedsheet, Soap, toiletries, Odomos, own basic hygiene kit and medical kit with yourself. Avoid bringing any valuables/expensive if possible. During travel do not let your state/team go anywhere without your knowledge. Keep own photo ID (preferred) or piece of paper with basic information like name address and emergency contacts on it, in your pocket. Looking forward to meeting you at Raipur. – NHA Organising Team

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U.P. State Health Assembly, Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh /

Report “The time to make health and healthcare a fundamental right is Now!” JSAUP organised the 3rd State Health Assembly on 8th September in Lucknow as an an event of mobilisation from different parts of the state as well as involvement and team work of member organisations of Jan SwasthyaAbhiyan. The assembly was attended by more than 200 activists, all the organisation heads also addressed the assembly and pledged support to the Abhiyan. Several new member organisations offered to become members of JSAUP which will be formalised after the NHA3. Dr Sundararaman, Dean TISS Mumbai, the Keynote Speaker of the occasion, presented the framework of the movement and set the stage for a meaningful discourse. Hesaid that the public health sector is starved of funds and human resources and on the other hand, there is a growing commercial private sector which sees healthcare as an area for high return investment, and which is disconnected from all public health outcomes. He further said that even after 70 years of independence, India is way short of providing accessible and affordable health care to its citizens.. All through last three decades, state health systems were systematically undermined- by a complete slowdown in public investment in health, thus giving scope and opportunity to the pvt sector to grow. This period saw an overwhelming growth of the private sector and a huge rise in out of pocket expenditures on health care. Experience over the last two decades show that “Public Private Partnership” (PPP) has not only failed to deliver the desired outcomes but has in turn added to the weakening of public health facilities to the advantage of private sector. Dr Sundararaman further said that International agencies were busy buying the big Hospital Chains in India and other developing countries to turn them to superspeciality hospitals and make profits through Medical Tourism. He warned that privatisation is no solution. In fact, it is the central problem. And a major cause of  Impoverishment due to increased expenditure on health is a major concern disproportionately affecting those who are marginalised and deprived. Dr CS Verma, President JSAUP, presented the Health Status Report of Uttar Pradesh.He said that Uttar Pradesh is among the poorest states in India.The estimated proportion of people under poverty line is 39.8% or 809.1 million. The rural population is significantly poor than the urban population.However, the state has been witnessing a robust growth over the last decadebut it has also been iniquitous. The economic growth rate has been reasonable- an average of 5.5% per year .The reasons for the iniquitous nature of growth are many, but the one dimension of this phenomenon that this paper explores is the contribution that the health sector makes to this rising inequity. Dr Verma further said that the growing private health care industry of Uttar Pradesh may be contributing to both the high growth rate and the poverty. The service sector is the biggest contributor to UP’s economic growth and within this no doubt the growth of private sector in health contributes significantly. But the private sector in health grows at the cost of impoverishment of the poor- a case of robbing the poor to pay the rich. Presenting the statistics of the state, Dr Verma expressed anguish at the state of affairs in the state. The state has 20976 Sub Centres, 3382 PHCs and 3581 CHCs, 10 sub district hospitals and 174 district hospitals as in January, 2017. However, the number of active facilities is a bit less than that. The gap between total facilities and active facilities has decreased during 12th plan period as compared to the 11th plan period, however it is still substantial. Dr Verma suggested that a comprehensive human resource policy, which lays down detailed guidelines for the state to implement strategies to address the shortage of human resources for health, is urgently needed. It is now widely acknowledged that for achieving universal health coverage (UHC), health human resources is the key factor. RP Singh of  FMRAI said that the  Institution of genuine and efficient price control regimes is a long-standing demand of FMRAI. FMRAI demands of abolition of all types of tax regime on medicine. Recently, FMRAI is conducting movement with the slogan of ‘No GST on Medicines’. FMRAI demands of revival of Pharma PSUs and ‘free medicines for all ailing people’. He said that  FMRAI demands of government of India of immediate enactment of statutory code, with stringent punishment clause,  for pharmaceutical marketing practices so that unethical marketing by pharmaceutical giants (by giving freebies and bribes) and thereby selling inessential medicines at high prices,  can be checked and controlled. RS Vajpai from CITU said thatThe current government spending on health care is a miserable 1.16% of GDP (2015). This is one of the lowest in the world (Rs. 957 per capita). The new health policy (Health Policy 2017) promises to increase public health spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2025,which will actually amount to Rs 2.83 lakh Crores( the current defense allocation) . While World Health Organization (WHO) recommends spending of 5% of GDP by the Nation States, Health Policy 2002 (drafted by A B Vajpayee Government) promised to increase the spending to 2% of GDP by 2010. But, it did not happen. Shishir from Water aid said that the inclusion of innovative approaches in health programs will strengthen the health systems. He suggested the following point: 1.Integrate WASH in health care facilities. It should be a core component in health policies, programmes and strategies relevant to quality of care and universal health coverage.2. Review Kayakalp criteria, other tools for monitoring WASH in HCF, and the recently released Joint Monitoring Program indicators for WASH in health care facilities to arrive at comprehensive standards that allow classification of facilities in relation to WASH “service ladders” to monitor progress.3. Measure WASH in health care facilities routinely within health and national level surveys Prof Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Government Medical University of Health Sciences, Saifai presided over the session. In his address, Prof Kumar said

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Report of Haryana State Level People’s Health Assembly

Haryana /

“Raahe Haque Par Jo Chalogey to Rahogey Zinda, Zulm ko Gar Zulm Kahogey to Rahogey Zinda” The 5th State Level People’s Health Assembly by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan Haryana has begun with this revolutionary song by Jatan Natya Kendra Haryana on September 09, 2018 at Rohtak, Haryana as part of preparations and mobilisation towards for NHA-3 Raipur and PHA-4 Savar, Bangladesh. “Time to Make Health and Healthcare a Fundamental Right is Now” was the central slogan of the assembly. The Assembly have been attended by around 200 elected delegates from more than 25 organisations working on health and social issues in the state of Haryana. This assembly was presided jointly by Dr. R. S. Dahiya, President, Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samiti and Ms. Savita, General Secretary, AIDWA. State Convener Mr. Satnam Singh have welcomed the delegates and presented the background and perspective of health assembly and the journey of PHM at Global, National and Haryana state level 2000. Dr. Amit Sengupta, from the National Team of JSA have inaugurated the Assembly. In his inaugural speech Amit have covered the National, International as well the state level issues concerned with health of people. He had discussed how the Government of India is handing over the healthcare facilities to the private sector. How the health services are turning in to a high profitable business. He criticized the target based private health services. How the pro-business and pro-private healthcare schemes & policies have damaged the public healthcare structure. The issues concerning health education, gender and health, strengthening of public health sector, access to medicines, safe drinking water, nutritious food, clean air and a proper space to live have also been covered. He pointed out the need of strengthening of PHM movement across the globe and said that a strong health rights movement is the only option to achieve the goal of Health for All. Dr. Madhu Nagla, Professor Sociology, MD University Rohtak has spoken on Gender & Health. How the women of this so-called No.1 and developed state are suffering from anaemia and other illnesses. Their working conditions, lack of appropriate education and intervention by government is claiming women and children life. How maximum schemes for women have only limited to the reproductive health. The government policies never account their real health issues and needs. Dr. Ajay Chhikara (Surgeon) and Dr. Sonia Dahiya (Gynae) have discussed the issues related to implementation of health schemes, availability of health services in government health facilities. Both the doctors have also raised and discussed the challenges faced by the honest doctors and other health workers. Dr. Dinesh Khosla (Paediatrician), a private practitioner discussed the lack of proper health education. He also pointed out the need of dissemination of scientific information related to health to the masses. Then all constituent organizations have intervened in the discussion reiterating the need of collective efforts for health rights movement. Subhash-a RTI activist, Surekha & Sunita from ASHA, Sheelawati & Savita from AIDWA, Rishikesh from Viklang Adhikar Manch Haryana, Sandeep Singh from DYFI, Rahul from SAKSHAM Haryana, Kapoor Singh from BNKU, Saroj from MDM Haryana, Sohandass from HGVS/AIPSN, Shesshpal from BGVS, Suresh from MPHE, Shakuntala from Aanganwadi, Veena Malik from Himmat, Ramneek from Saptrang, Vikram from LT association have participated in the discussion. All these people have presented the report of interventions done by their respective organizations in health rights movement as part of JSA Haryana. The report of last for years activities has been placed before the house by State Convener Satnam Singh. The major activities and campaigns carried out during last four years are: 1. Free Health Clinics (Twice a week) at three locations 2. Health Camps 3. Publication of a Quarterly Magazine named “Health Dialogue” 4. Publication of Booklets, Pamphlets, Brochures on various issues like Anaemia, Fever, Sanitation, Gender and Health, Working Conditions of Health Activists like ASHA. 5. Seminars on various issues like Women & Health (Rohtak 1 Seminar), Food Safety (Jind 2 seminar), Strengthening of Public Health Sector (Hisar 3 seminar). 6. Meeting of various District Core Committees 7. Agitation & Demonstrations for availability of proper facilities like medicines and other services at CHC, PHC level etc. Dr. R. S. Dahiya, Member State Secretariat of JSA & President Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samiti has concluded the discussion. And proposed the future activities: 1. Formation Village Level Committees (2 Village per District) as a pilot. 2. Publication of Two Posters (Fever, Anaemia), Two Booklets (Women Health, Health Status of Haryana) and One Book comprising of selected articles which have been published in our Magazine in last 9 years. 3. Inclusion of new organisations in the state JSA team.The strike and ongoing movement of different government employees’ associations of Haryana, specially, the MPHE, Nurses, Lab Technicians associations affected the attendance of Assembly. 4. Launch of Agitations for availability of health services (manpower, machines, buildings etc) at all levels. The Assembly have selected the 45 delegates to participate in NHA-3 to be held at Raipur on 22-23 September 2018. The Assembly ended with a play named “Ponga Panditon ki Jageh Jel Mein Hai” by Jatan Natya Kendra Haryana. In the end Ms. Savita, General Secretary of AIDWA, presented the vote thanks on behalf of presidium.

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State Health Assembly – Bhopal 30th August 2018

Madhya Pradesh /

The state health assembly were organised at Gandhi Bhavan Bhopal on 30th August 2018, this was attended by around 90 participants from the 27 districts Shadol, Badwani, Datia, Tiakmgarh, Bhind, Vidisha, Khandwa, Mandla, Jabalpur, Damoh, Harda, Dhar, Jhabua, Singrauli, Alirajpur, Bhopal, Rajgarh, Sheopur, Chhatarpur, Katni, Satna, Chhindwara, Hoshangabad, Indore, Rewa, Anuppur and Narsingpur. Assembly started with introduction of all the participants and inaugural lecture by one of the most active member of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan Madhya Pradesh Mr S. R. Azad, he started with the revisiting the Alma Ata declaration 1978 of ‘ Health for All by 2000’ AD, to which India was also a signatory. It is almost two decades since the goal year has passed but there is no sign of the realization of the declaration. In fact, India is following the undesirable path of introducing the private sector in health care. After that he added major activities and campaign carried out by the state JSA like PIL filed in the case of privatisation of public health institution district hospital Alirajpurand Jobat CHC, Monitoring of National Health Mission, Botched eye surgery, Silicosis and many more. In the next session Dr. Anant Bhan who is working on the issue of medical ethics has delivered his speech on the subject “challenges in health sector in India with special focus on PPP, Insurance, and Privatization”. He said that health became a political agenda before the election year and government is focusing on the privatization or public private partnership in health care services. He also added that accessing health care services is leading cause of indebtedness. He shared some of the current government health schemes. Ayushman Bharat claims that 40% covered population is of SC/ST. This scheme provides for health insurance rather than direct health services. This has shifted the financing of health care from a public (tax-sourced) model to an insurance – based service. The government buys insurance on behalf of the beneficiary population from a third party (insurance agency) where the benefit cover is of ₹5 lakh with 1350 ‘cashless’ medical packages. There is no cap on the family size. There was a soft-launch of the scheme on the occasion of 15th August 2018, while the full-fledged operations are yet to be rolled out. A 24×7 helpline has also been launched. There are multiple issues regarding this scheme, some being- Source of funding is uncertain-while the central and state governments are to spend 60% and 40% respectively, but the corpus has been determined on the basis of the 2011 socio-economic caste census, and the population has been increasing at a steady rate ever since. Few stated like Odisha have refused to adopt the scheme since they have their own schemes with coverage upto 7 lakhs. Ayushman Bharat focuses on in-patient treatment while OPD remains largely ignored. Out of pocket expenditure on health, especially primary health and post-operation palliative care pushes thousands of families into poverty and debt. The Medical and allopathic medicine lobby is adamant against bridging courses for nurses, ASHA workers, since it fears loss in revenue. Contrast this with the reluctance of certified doctors to go to rural and interior areas. Cases like the Johnson and Johnson hip replacement recall shows how the regulatory laws favour private agencies rather than people. In India, only those who have complained of complications are getting a corrective surgery, there is no direct compensation for all victims. The recent controversy of the ban on oxytocin production, vaccination rows, is also issues of public health concern. Private hospitals get massive subsidies like land leases for a pittance because they are supposed to be working for social benefit. A particular ratio of beds is to be reserved for BPL patients, but these profit-driven entities will never work for social benefit since their driving objectives are contradictory. Dr. Anat Bhan also shared some of the good examples of privatisation of health services. Mohalla clinics in Delhi, where private practitioners are incentivised to run a few hours of service, are a good example of how the existing private stakeholders can participate. Cross subsidising is an option where people who can afford pay more than those who can’t. Another issue raised was of sterilisation camps, malnutrition and consequent deaths, and their impact on marginalised communities. In the next session Mr. Aulya Nidhi talked about the Major Health Issue of Madhya Pradesh. He started with the explaining the basic ideology of Jan Swasthy Abhiyan is that JSA is a voluntary network, and all members are in agreement with the People’s Health Charter. He speaks about the various major health issues of Madhya Pradesh like – Unethical clinical trials– Due to unethical clinical trials hundreds of victims died and thousands are suffering from severe adverseeffects. He added the recent example of Cases like the Johnson and Johnson hip replacement recall shows how the regulatory laws favour private agencies rather than people. In India, only those who have complained of complications are getting a corrective surgery, there is no direct compensation for all victims. Privatisation of health services and institutions – State Government is trying to privatise the health institutions. JSA intervene via public interest litigation (PIL) in one of the incidence of Alirajpur district hospital and CHC Joabt, where department had carried out an MoU with Deepak Foundation. Presently the process is on hold but we have to be very conscious about this type of steps and need to intervene timely. Health and wellness centre- Another important issue was of the newly proposed ‘Health and Wellness Centres’ replacing sub centres across the country, and alarmingly, vision documents talking about the updatation of sub centres but Madhya Pradesh health department is trying to convert PHCs in health & wellness centres. Due to this step the demand for two doctors at Primary health centre will be in grey area. Ethics in medical field- Ethics in medical education is one of the critical issue in th estate. VYAPAM scam is one the example but there are more practices in this fields to

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Health Assembly, Bihar-2018

Bihar /

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), Bihar organized Health Assembly Bihar-2018 on 13th September 2018 at Bihar Chamber of Commerce, Patna. More than 100 participants from about 60 different organizations have participated in the programme. Ms Priyadarshini Trivedi, Population foundation of India (PFI) welcomes the guest and participants. Mr Rafay Eajaz Hussain, Save the Children shared the purpose and importance of the health assembly. He said in 1978, at the Alma‐Ata Conference declared “Health for All by the Year 2000” selecting Primary Health Care as the best tool to achieve it. The Alma-Ata declarations were given a silent and reticent burial. It was ensued by developing another international protocol -Millennium Development Goals in 2000 and set a target to achieve these Goals by 2015. Regrettably, these dreams never came true – not the least in India. Key speaker Dr Abhay Shukla, JSA said that the health, public health and democracy have the deep relationship if we want to create a welfare state. He also emphasized on the slash in the health budget by current government. He shared the nutrition status of country and Bihar. He said recently launched National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) aims to cover almost half the population with publicly funded health insurance. The scheme is built and formulated around an interpretation of universal health coverage that reduces universal health care to health insurance coverage and that too for a proportion of the population. The private health insurance companies and health care providers are already expecting huge windfalls from NHPS. In parallel to this the government has also launched a programme for the provision of Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC). This programme envisages the strengthening of 1.5 lakh existing sub centres and all primary health centres into Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) that would deliver a broader package of preventive, primitive, curative and rehabilitative services delivered close to communities by health care providers. However, for its successful implementation, the system has to commit to more finances, a regular well trained considerably expanded work force and a very robust continuity of care arrangements with a strengthened secondary and tertiary healthcare. Both these components under the Ayushman Bharat have a significant involvement of the private sector, indicating a shift from public provisioning of health towards privatisation. These developments are altering the policy and governance landscape in India, which would have far reaching implications especially in the area of health and healthcare. He said “we don’t need health card we need health right”. Dr Shakeel, JSA shared the health charter prepared by JSA Bihar core committee and unanimously it was adopted. He said Government Health Expenditure per person per year in Bihar at paltry Rs 338 is the lowest of the 20 states in the country for which estimate was released by National Health Accounts. Total Health Expenditure per capita in Bihar is RS 2047, out of which Out of Pocket Expenditure is Rs 1685 – constituting whooping 82.3% of Total Health Expenditure. A noteworthy percentage of India’s population is being pushed to BPL category because of health expenditure. According to a study by P. Berman, R. Ahuja, L. Bhandari (2010), 6.2 per cent of India’s population has fallen below the poverty line due to expenses incurred on health. More than 40 per cent of the population has to borrow or sell assets for treatment, according to the 2004 National Sample Survey Organisation. He said “The time to make health and healthcare a fundamental right is Now!” Dr Nilangini, SAHAJ shared experience of data driven advocacy for gender equality. Dr Madhumita Chatterjee, PMCH, Mr Pratiush Prakash, OXFAM, Mr Sandip Ojha, C3, Ms Priyadarshini Trivedi, PFI, Mr Saurabh Kumar, Action Aid, Mr Rupesh Kumar, Right to Food, Ms Sushila & Nivedita Jha, Bihar Mahila Samaj and others has also shared their views. Click here to view Bihar JSA in news

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