Manifestos of political events for the upcoming Maharashtra State Election present an elevated concentrate on well being marking a transparent shift from previous elections. To draw voters, events are pledging health-focused initiatives, starting from Common Well being Care and a mission to enhance diet amongst tribal communities and offering free medicine for way of life ailments and preventive healthcare packages for youth. Whereas docs applaud this shift in priorities, they urge the state to extend its well being funds to make sure these guarantees are financially possible and successfully carried out.
Dr. Abhay Shukla, nationwide co-convenor of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, a community of well being professionals and NGOs, expressed optimism. “After 25 years within the well being sector, that is the primary time we’re seeing such a complete dedication to key well being points. It’s a welcome change that factors towards a extra inclusive and equitable healthcare system.”
The Indian Specific analysed the election manifestos and located that the ruling BJP’s manifesto outlines 14 well being initiatives below the “Mission Swasth Maharashtra” program, geared toward strengthening the state’s public healthcare system. Among the many proposals are growing the variety of medical professionals, opening PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras at major well being centres for inexpensive medicines, and increasing the Ayushman Bharat scheme to cowl extra hospitals.
The BJP additionally guarantees free well being check-ups for way of life ailments equivalent to hypertension and diabetes.
Along with addressing way of life ailments, the BJP goals to fight sickle cell anaemia by establishing screening centres and analysis institutes. In addition they plan to spice up blood provide providers for thalassemia sufferers, introduce most cancers screening on the taluka stage, and deploy cellular medical models in distant tribal areas to make sure healthcare reaches essentially the most underserved populations.
Nonetheless, public well being consultants have raised considerations about among the BJP’s guarantees, noting that a number of initiatives—equivalent to free medical protection as much as Rs 5 lakh below Ayushman Bharat and Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana—have been beforehand introduced however are actually being reiterated forward of the elections.
In the meantime, the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi has proposed a “Proper to Healthcare” coverage for Maharashtra.
This coverage would assure free entry to high quality healthcare providers in each city and rural areas and set up Common Well being Care throughout the state. It guarantees to equip sub-district hospitals, arrange ‘mohalla clinics’, and set up 100-bed hospitals in each taluka. In addition they advocate for a gradual enhance within the state’s well being funds to eight% of the overall state funds.
Moreover, the MVAs manifesto requires filling vacant posts within the well being division, regularising contract-based nurses, growing honorariums for ASHAs, Anganwadi employees, and helpers, and increasing entry to free important medicines. The get together additionally pledges to launch campaigns to fight anaemia and sickle cell anaemia and set up a “Affected person Rights Constitution” to handle grievances and set up toll-free helplines.
Dr. Shukla emphasised the rising consideration to equitable entry to well being providers, significantly in rural areas.
“For the primary time, we’re seeing a concentrate on preventative care and making certain equitable entry to well being providers, significantly in rural areas,” he mentioned. “The adoption of the Proper to Healthcare coverage is not going to solely enhance service high quality however will be certain that folks from all walks of life can entry free, high quality healthcare, each in authorities and personal hospitals.”
The Indian Medical Affiliation (IMA) has additionally welcomed the political concentrate on well being. Dr. Santosh Kadam, newly elected president of IMA Maharashtra, believes this renewed consideration is a direct response to the gaps uncovered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s good to concentrate on well being points however whoever involves the facility, wants to extend the funds which nonetheless hovers round 4 %—it must be elevated to at the least 8 % to offer the services to the voters,” mentioned Dr Kadam. “The federal government ought to enhance the fee below AB-PMJAY to personal hospitals, as the present reimbursement is simply too low, discouraging them from treating sufferers below the scheme,” he added.
