HYDERABAD: A system of giving a specified amount to the people towards their health expenses on the lines of minimum support price given to farmers should be introduced in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, said Governor ESL Narasimhan.
“Unless health security is achieved, national security and prosperity cannot be achieved. Healthcare providers should work to make it affordable to poor and middle class with special focus on rural areas,” recommended the Governor.
He was speaking at the Indo-Global Health Care summit in Hyderabad on Thursday. The four-day summit is being held to discuss various healthcare issues in India. Pointing out that even basic healthcare services are out of reach of the common man, the Governor urged health practitioners to focus on providing holistic healthcare solutions.
“India has an ageing population. Various forms of pollution, stressful and unhealthy lifestyle are posing severe health problems. Affordable healthcare is the only solution to save India from turning into a sick populace. Besides individual doctors and government hospitals, corporate hospitals should come forward to provide affordable services to at least a section of the population, as part of their corporate social responsibility,” suggested the Governor.
Dr Robert Wah, president of American Medical Association, also stressed on the need for making healthcare facilities accessible and affordable in India.
“Indian health sector is growing at a tremendous pace. But it is also facing the challenges of accessibility and affordability. doctors, pharma entrepreneurs and government should focus on taking health facilities closer to the people as still, a large section of the population lives in rural areas,” said Robert Wah.
Doctors, scientists, pharmacists and entrepreneurs, among others are participating in the summit. Healthcare excellence awards were also presented on the occasion.
Drugs Act to be Amended
Drugs and Cosmetics Act will be soon amended and renamed as Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices Act. “Animal tests for cosmetics and other clinical trials have been completely banned,” said S Eswara Reddy, Joint Drugs Controller of India