Evidence of the successful eradication of guinea worm infestation using improved water supply systems and of polio through improved sanitation and universal immunisation, are reminders of the interconnectivity between the two (“ >Missing links in universal health care ,” Nov.21). The role of primary health care cannot be undermined and must be further revamped under the plan for Universal Health Care. Officials must learn lessons from the Andhra Pradesh model, “Arogyasri,” which laid more stress on secondary and tertiary care. It was a failure as it led to no significant reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure while increasing forced hospitalisation. It affected the poor as it led to higher and indirect expenditures. Thus, integrated health care along with extended health care is the need of the hour.
Ankit Garg,
Ghaziabad
As a student of medicine, I have seen people with a simple fever, headache, diarrhoea, gastritis or a sore throat seeking medical intervention at tertiary-care hospitals. This also exposes the flaws of our primary health-care system. Apart from rectifying infrastructural lacunae, attitudes need to change. The rich often seek super-speciality help for minor problems as it is “unbefitting of their status” to visit a PHC. This kind of behaviour is also spreading rapidly across Indian society. Similarly, medical staff at PHCs work with a different kind of attitude as they are in a hurry ‘to refer’ rather than ‘to treat’. Primary health care in India needs a complete revamp.
Mohd Younis,
Tujan Pulwama, J&K
