The National Health Protection Scheme, Ayushman Bharat, has a political agenda and lacks transparency, in turn leading to corruption in the working system, a lack of enthusiasm in the medical fraternity and a huge loss as far as poor patients are concerned. It is a pity that the writer (Editorial page, “A health scheme that should not fail”, May 28) has failed to highlight the core issues. The current political dispensation and its predecessors have failed miserably in allocating funds (less than 2% GDP); synchronising reforms; upgrading primary, secondary and tertiary-care medical colleges and headquarters hospitals with manpower and equipment; ensuring balance in State health governance; and acting against quacks and cross-practitioners. The private sector too needs to introspect about cost curtailment.
Dr. J. Terrence Jose Jerome,
Tiruchi
There is no doubt that there are a lot of gaps in the health sector in terms of affordability of health services (public or private), a lack of standard quality and insufficient investment in human resources and equipment. Unregulated commercialisation of the health sector is what has led to a rise in unethical practices. Ayushman Bharat can progress only if it is accompanied by a regulation of the sector, better accountability and monitoring, equity in rural-urban health services and a balance in private-public health services.
Muskan Mehra,
New Delhi
