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Abnormal Rise in Caesarean Sections

The commercialisation of caesarean deliveries, especially in private hospitals, hit the headlines recently following an online petition. It was further highlighted when Women and Child Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi asked the Ministry of Health to ensure that hospitals make public the number of caesarean births. Figures for C-section deliveries are alarming, putting a question mark on the possible unethical practices prevalent in private hospitals. Read full article by Chhaya Pachauli.

Use of Pellet Guns Has Caused a Public Health Crisis in Kashmir

In addition to being a violation of human rights, the continued use of pellet guns has meant an incredible amount of pressure on the state’s public health care system and medical professional “I was returning home after visiting my sister when people told me there was some disturbance on the very road that I had to take… There was a lot of commotion, stones flying around, lots of angry crowds and forces… I was told not to go further. But I had to return. The children were alone at home. I waited for a while. All of a sudden something hit me, I don’t know what. I couldn’t see anything and I cannot describe to you the pain… ” ∼ A 22-year-old woman who was caught in crossfire and hit by pellets, and lost her vision. Read full article by N.Sarojini.

World Health Day 2017: People over Profit

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), Public Health Resources Network (PHRN) and Public Services International (PSI) are organising a panel discussion on World Health Day 2017: People over Profit, to be held on 7 April, 6 to 8.30 pm at Indian International Center Annex, Lecture Room 1. Find details of the programme here

In budget 2017, Arun Jaitley gave flailing public health programs little hope

At a time when the country is grappling with perilous effects of demonetisation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was expected to be sensitive to the suffering of millions of Indians and enhance the social safety nets in the form of expansion of employment, education, health, food and nutrition. He has, instead, made some nominal increases in the rural sector and offered tax sops to the middle class. This increase in allocation appears mere tokenism when we compare it to price increases and expenditure cutbacks over last few years… Read the full article (Courtesy Scroll.in)

A year of apathy towards public health services

The past year once again provides a clear picture of neglect of public health by the BJP led government and further, a disdain towards policies that promote welfare. The year has seen several outbreaks of infectious diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, often reaching epidemic proportions in many parts of the country. The epidemics have laid bare the inability of the country’s health systems to protect people’s health. Yet successive budgets presented by the BJP government have strengthened the perception that this government is ideologically committed to reducing public expenditure on welfare and public services. The past year has again seen a singular reluctance, on the part of the government, to even spell out a clear approach to health care. The Niti Ayog has played its due role of a neoliberal right-wing think tank by consistently shooting down even mildly progressive proposals that have been put forward by the Ministry of Health….read full article here..

National Health Accounts Depicts The Crisis in the Health Sector

India continues to have one of the most privatised health systems in the world. India’s public health expenditure in terms of percent of GDP (1.15 percent) spent on healthcare places India at 12th from the bottom, in the company of countries such as Myanmar, Haiti, South Sudan, Timor-Leste and Pakistan. THE union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) supported National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) has recently published (August 2016) the National Health Accounts for 2013-14. While summary data for expenditures on health are published regularly, a rigorous estimate of health expenditure in the country is being published after a gap of ten years (after 2003-04). While overall estimates have been published, the document promises that “policy interpretations of the data will follow including estimation of expenditures by diseases, age and gender in the coming year”. Health expenditure relate data is an important planning tool as it provides information regarding the direction of public policy towards provision of healthcare and also provides insights into the financial burden faced by households while accessing healthcare services. Read more….  

6th Right to Food Convention in Ranchi

The 6th National Convention on Right to Food & Work was held from the 23 – 25 September, 2016 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The convention saw the participation of over 2000 persons from all across the country. The parallel workshops and the plenaries came out with important resolutions on the issues that the campaign needs to focus on as well as some concrete plans for action. Some immediate points of action include a meeting on NREGA in November, a day of action at states on November 22nd on implementation of maternity entitlements and against destruction of PDS through Aadhar and PoS, workshops for youth on democratic rights and RTF and a meeting with NAPM on resource loot. A national campaign against the exclusion of beneficiaries from the PDS, pensions and other schemes because of the gaps in PoS machines and UID numbers will be planned..read the Call to Action from the workshop in Hindi and English

Report of National Workshop on Informalisation of Work in the Health Sector ( April 22-23, New Delhi)

Public Services International (PSI), Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) and Health Employees Union, Delhi (HEU) jointly organized a two day National level workshop on “Informalisation of Employment in the Health Sector” at Indian Social institute, New Delhi. The workshop was an effort to bring together public health activists, trade union representatives and organizations in the health sector to understand the nature and trends of informalisation of employment in the sector, to develop strategies to respond to the challenges posed by these trends and to create a platform for further joint work. Read the workshop report here: psi-jsa-heu_workshopreport_final

Union Budget for Healthcare: Disappointing and Directionless

The Health sector has reasons to be disappointed by the Union Budget for 2016-17 presented on 29th February. Budget provisions for healthcare indicate that the Government intends to continue with its policy of promoting ‘managed care’ where publicly provided services are progressively starved of resources and even public funded services are increasingly outsourced to the private sector. This is the principal take away from the budget provisions for health care. Read full JSA Press Statement…

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