Healthcare missing majority

The problems identified at the meeting can be divided broadly into two categories -- structural or logistic limitations and management lacunae. However, it has transpired from the discussion that mismanagement and corruption are by far the biggest obstacle on the way to making the system efficient. To begin with, huge amounts of money have been spent without assessing the healthcare needs of people. The modernisation drive has also failed to attain its objective, as expensive equipment are lying unused in many hospitals. Clearly, the purchase of the equipment was not preceded by sound planning.

Corruption continues to be a debilitating factor. Pilferage accounts for no less than 30 per cent of the drugs procured for patients. The vulnerability of patients is also exploited by the touts who have a strong presence in any public sector hospital these days. Again, the question arises, what is the source of their strength? It is not known why the hospital management cannot knock them out.

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The decision to set up community clinics was based on the idea of bringing the health care system as close to the masses as possible. But experience should pretty much convince us that the efficacy of a system does not depend on the physical facilities alone. A clinic cannot function smoothly unless the doctors show a minimum degree of commitment to their profession. Similarly, pilferage of drugs and misappropriation of funds cannot be the stuff of which a dependable healthcare system is made.

Lack of accountability has been identified as the main reason behind the chaotic scene in the health sector. The government must not miss the point that its levers of containing corruption have jammed and also that management of public hospital must improve vastly.