There is a need to increase the number of doctors and motivate more doctors to serve in rural areas and in public health sector, Governor Banwarilal Purohit said.
Citing the National Health Profile 2017, he said the low percentage of doctors in public health sector was a matter of concern. Medical service provided to rural population would pave way for improving public health, he said while addressing the first Graduation Day of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital here on Wednesday.
Development of well-equipped hospital in backward areas was symbolic of the trend of public turning towards private health care facilities.
Tamil Nadu was better placed with availability of 12 doctors for every 10,000 population. It was almost equal to the world average of 1:800.
Delivery of modern health care depends on groups of trained professionals and para professionals coming together to form interdisciplinary teams. Professionals in medicine, psychology, nursing and physiotherapy have to work along with others as a community health workers so as to provide the best health care service to the people.
Referring to changes in lifestyle, he said interventions must cover non-communicable diseases like tuberculosis and malaria as well as infectious diseases like diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension and rheumatic heart diseases. Reports indicate that 55% of Indian women between 15 and 49 years have anaemia or low blood count. Such health issues need attention.
The Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission launched by the Central Government to provide benefit of ₹ 5 lakh cover a family a year will benefit the poor and vulnerable groups, he said adding that the scheme ensuring increased access to healthcare and medication will make a big impact on raising the quality of life.
Further, payment for treatment will be done on package rate to be fixed by the government in advance. The package will include all cost associated with treatment thus making it a cashless, paper less transaction for the beneficiaries. The scheme ensures appropriate integration with the existing health insurance/ protection schemes of State governments thus enhancing the coverage and providing greater avenues for expansion of health care facilities.
The mission is to make health care comprehensive, universal, affordable and qualitatively professional by working together and rising above distinctions of public versus private sector, allopathy vs traditional systems and urban areas vs rural areas, the Governor said.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare C. Vijaya Baskar, Collector V. Santha, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University S. Geethalakshmi and Chairman – Founder Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Group of Institutions A.Srinivasan took part.
