Healthcare will be reformed when BJP comes to Power

Posted: April 9, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: 12th Five Year Plan, Chronic Disease Management, Digital Health, Disease Management, eHealth, Healthcare, mHealth, NRHM, Rural Health, Telehealth, Telemedicine | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Health Services – increase the Access, improve the quality, lower the Cost

India needs a holistic care system that is universally accessible, affordable and effective and drastically reduces the out of pocket spending on health. NRHM has failed to meet the objectives and will be radically reformed. BJP accords high priority to health sector, which is crucial for securing the economy.

The overarching goal of healthcare would be to provide, ‘Health Assurance to all Indians and to reduce the out of pocket spending on health care’, with the help of state governments.

The current situation calls for radical reforms in the healthcare system with regards to national healthcare programs and delivery, medical education and training and financing of healthcare. Our government would focus on the following reforms in healthcare:

  • the last healthcare policy dates back to 2002. India now needs a comprehensive healthcare policy to address the complex healthcare challenges, keeping in view the developments in the healthcare sector and the changing demographics. BJP will initiate the New Health Policy.
  • initiate the ‘National Health Assurance Mission’, with a clear mandate to provide universal healthcare that is not only accessible and affordable, but also effective, and reduces the OOP spending for the common man.
  • Education and Training – Will review the role of various professional regulatory bodies in healthcare and consider setting up an overarching lean body for healthcare. High priority will be given to address the shortfall of healthcare professionals.
  • Modernize Government hospitals, upgrading infrastructure and latest technologies.
  • Reorganize Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in order to converge various departments dealing in healthcare, food and nutrition and pharmaceuticals, for effective delivery of healthcare services.
  • Increase the number of medical and para-medical colleges to make India self sufficient in human resources, and set up an AIIMS like institute in every state.
  • Yoga and Ayurveda are the gifts of ancient Indian civilization to humanity and we will increase the public investment to promote Yoga and AYUSH. We will start integrated courses for Indian System of Medicine (ISM) and modern science and Ayurgenomics. We will set up institutions and launch a vigorous program to standardize and validate the Ayurvedic medicine.
  • Move to pre-emptive care model where the focus and thrust will be on child health and prevention.
  • School health program would be a major focus area, and health and hygiene will be made a part of the school curriculum.
  • Focus on Rural Health care delivery.
  • Senior Citizens healthcare would be a special focus area.
  • Give high priority to chronic diseases, and will invest in research and development of solutions for chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cancer, CVD etc.
  • Occupational health programs will be pursued aggressively.
  • Utilize the ubiquitous platform of mobile phones for healthcare delivery and set up the “National eHealth Authority” to leverage telemedicine and mobile healthcare for expanding reach and coverage and to define the standards and legal framework for technology driven care.
  • Universalization of emergency medical services-108.
  • Re-orientation of herbal plants board to encourage farming of herbal plants.
  • Population stabilization would be a major thrust area and would be pursued as a mission mode program.
  • Programme for Women Healthcare with emphasis on rural, SC, ST and OBC in a mission mode.
  • Mission mode project to eradicate malnutrition.
  • Launch National Mosquito Control mission.

Poor Hygiene and Sanitation have a far reaching, cascading impact. We will ensure a “Swachh Bharat” by Gandhi ji’s 150th birth anniversary in 2019, taking it up in mission mode by converging resources and building around jan bhagidari:

  • Create an open defecation free India by awareness campaign and enabling people to build toilets in their home as well as in schools and public places.
  • Set up modern, scientific sewage and waste management systems.
  • We will introduce Sanitation Ratings measuring and ranking our cities and towns on ‘sanitation’; and rewarding the best performers.
  • Make potable drinking water available to all thus reducing water–borne diseases, which will automatically translate into Diarrhoea–free India.

 

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

Authored the BJP Election Manifesto 2014 under the Chairmanship of Dr.Murli Manohar Joshi

Time for a New National Health Policy

Posted: October 27, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: 12th Five Year Plan, Chronic Disease Management, Digital Health, Disease Management, eHealth, Healthcare, Healthcare System, mHealth, NCHRH, NRHM, Rural Health, Telehealth, Telemedicine, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DMAI Logo1

 Rajendra Pratap Gupta

President & Member

Board of Directors

October 27, 2013

Shri Keshav Desiraju

Secretary to the Government of India

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi – 110108.

 

Reference: Need for a National Health Policy – NHP

Dear Shri Keshav ji,

I am writing on behalf of the Disease Management Association of India – The Population Health Improvement Alliance. We have been proactively taking up issues with regards to healthcare policy & reforms in India.

On February 01, 2013, when you were appointed as the Health Secretary, people involved with the health sector felt happy that the nation had got its best health secretary!  Expectations are running high!

This communiqué is about the need for setting up a team to draft the National Health Policy. Since the last National Health Policy was drafted more than 10 years ago in 2002, a lot of things have changed, like;

  • NRHM was launched in 2005 as a flagship program focused on rural health
  • RSBY was launched
  • Pandemic outbreaks like H1N1 (Swine Flu) have been a surprise and have shaken the world
  • Rise of MDR – T.B.
  • Increase in the incidence of chronic diseases & the issues related to child health
  • Occupational hazards
  • High IMR/MMR & MDGs deadline approaching in 2015

Besides, a lot of other developments have taken place, like;

  • UID –Aadhaar number for the entire population have been initiated
  • Emergence of mHealth & telemedicine
  • Newer technological interventions for diagnostics and treatment
  • Emergence of Big Data Analytics
  • Also that, India is focusing on transitioning the healthcare system to Universal Coverage
  • Emergence of innovative concepts, like Disease Management, ACOs (Accountable Care Organizations), HMOs (Health Management Organizations)  & Meaningful use.
  • Emergence of the prominent role of civil society organizations in healthcare delivery
  • Role of social media

The 12th five year plan has often been referred to as the plan for health, and I believe, that it is the right time to set up a committee to draft the new National Health Policy by 2015. Even if the committee is set up in early 2014, it will take at least a year to do the survey and complete the policy and so, most likely, the NHP would be tabled by 2015 and would cover a period of next 10 years (2015-2025).

We are sure that you will consider our request seriously and initiate the process for the new National Health Policy

With best wishes and with warm regards

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

CC:

Dr.Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, Government of India.

Shri. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare

Dr.Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India

Chairperson, UPA

Presidents of all the National Political Parties

Toothpastes & Tooth-powders – Potentially harmful for children

Posted: July 8, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

 

 

Image                                                              

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

President

July 08, 2013

Chairman

Hindustan Unilever  / Colgate Palmolive / The Himalaya Drug Co. / GlaxoSmithKline

Mumbai.

 

Ref: Failure to display properly important information related to potentially poisonous effects of toothpastes / tooth powder on children

 

I am writing this note on behalf of ‘The Disease Management Association of India – The Population Health Improvement Alliance’.

 

We have come across a glaring lapse in the manner in which the important information related to the quantity of toothpaste / toothpowder to be used by children is not displayed by your company. The correct quantity should be used and the over usage could be detrimental to the health of the population has not been properly displayed on the packaging. This is a serious issue and cause of immediate concern in the interest of millions of children across the country. I am putting here the message displayed on most of the toothpastes/toothpowders sold in India. It is important to quote here that majority of the toothpastes / powders sold are have fluoride as an ingredient.

 

  • ‘For children under the age of six; use a pea sized amount under adult supervision. Do not swallow. (Printed on Pepsodent made by HUL).
  • Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidently swallow more than used for brushing, get medical help or contact poison control. Children under 2 years ask a dentist or physicians (Printed on Aquafresh made by GSK. Of course, I brought this particular pack from U.K. but I guess it would be same for India as well).
  • Children under 6 years of age should have adult supervision and use only a pea size amount. Do not swallow (Printed on Colgate made by Colgate-Palmolive).
  • Children 6 years and below should have adult supervision and use only a pea-sized amount. Do not swallow. Spit and rinse thoroughly after brushing (Printed on Active Fresh Gel by Himalaya Drug Co.)

 

It is evident that brushing of teeth daily twice is a message blasted on various media platforms i.e. TV, Radio & magazines every day, but the message (using the right quantity & the potential poisonous effects on the health of children if used more than the size of a pea), which should ideally be put as a warning in bold & red colored alphabets or read out aloud in the TV / Radio is completely ignored in these media blasts.

Also, the message to use ‘pea size’ is put in small alphabets and that too, in English only, It is important to consider, how many Indians would understand ‘size of pea’ keeping in mind the rural & non-English speaking population? This is a serious issue, and I am quite surprised that this has not been raised till date by anyone, and this would have already harmed millions of children across the country.

 

This amounts to a serious ethical lapse on your company’s part, and conveys lack of seriousness towards the health of the country’s innocent children who are coerced into using tooth paste daily without understanding the harmful effects based on the numerous advertisements blasted on various media platforms.

 

I also must quote the annual report of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India; “Excess intake of fluoride over a long period of time leads to major health disorders like Dental Fluorosis, Skeletal Fluorosis and Non-Skeletal Fluorosis besides inducing ageing. The harmful effects being permanent and irreversible in nature are detrimental to the health of an individual and the community which in turn has an impact on growth development economy and human resources development of the country” and the Government has started a national programme for prevention and control of Fluorosis (NPPF).

 

Clearly, business interests of your company have ignored the health issues related to children of this country and this has to be addressed without any further delay.

 

I would like to hear from you about the action taken in this regard in terms of;

 

  1. Immediate warnings to be issued on radio, newspapers and television about the quantity of tooth paste to be used by children and harmful / poisonous side effects.
  2. Mentioning this warning prominently and highlighting it in local language in red color on the packing and the toothpaste tube.
  3. Withdrawing the old stocks from the market and replacing them with the new stocks with proper warning.

 

I am also marking this note to Shri Keshav Desiraju, Secretary- Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, for actions that might be needed on an urgent basis & how medical associations like IMA (Indian Medical Association) & IDA (Indian Dental Association) have been endorsing some of these brands might need to be looked into.

In hope of the needful at the earliest possible.

Yours Sincerely

Rajendra Pratap Gupta 

 

Shri. Desiraju, Secretary to the Government of India, MOHFW.

Implementing strategies focusing on Child Health through Ministry of Human Resource Development

Posted: February 24, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: 12th Five Year Plan, Chronic Disease Management, Digital Health, Disease Management, Healthcare System | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DMAI                                   

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            President & Board Member

February 13, 2013.

Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju

Union Minister for Human Resource Development

Government of India

Shastri Bhawan, C- Wing, Dr.Rajendra Prasad road.

New Delhi- 110001

 

Subject: Implementing strategies focusing on Child Health through Ministry of Human Resource Development

 

Dear Dr.Raju,

 

I am sure this finds you doing well.

 

This note is a follow up on my earlier communications on including health education in school / college curriculum.  Please refer

following  communications;

 

  1. Communication regarding Child Health dated 11th Feb,11 http://dmai.org.in/sites/default/files/Unhealthy_Promotions_MOHFW.pdf
  2. Communication dated July 11, 2011 on the UN High level summit for Heads of States. http://dmai.org.in/sites/default/files/Note%20to%20PMO%20for%20UN%20Summit%20on%20NCD’s%20%20September’11.pdf
  3. Communication dated 8th August 2011 regarding, Right to Preventive Care & child health . http://dmai.org.in/sites/default/files/Right%20to%20Preventive%20Care.pdf
  4. Communication to Shri Kapil Sibal, Former HRD Minister, for including health in the school curriculum. http://dmai.org.in/sites/default/files/Healthcare%20in%20School%20Curriculam.pdf
  5. Communication dated October 10th, 2012 to Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare on ‘Pre-emptive care’           focused on child health. http://dmai.org.in/Pre-emptive-Care-A-new-model-of-care.pdf
  6. My address at the United Nations, on why we need to focus on Child Health? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCTKC4ndjsc

 

Implementing strategies to ensure good heath among children would require collaborative working between the

Ministry of Human Resource Development along with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare & the Ministry of

Women & Child Development & the Ministry of IT & Communications . We have been following this issue very

closely, and have sent numerous proposals and met up with various officials from time to time.

 

The following, if not yet implemented, would be a good step to promote child health ;

 

1. Start a chapter on hygiene & oral care from class 1 onwards

2. Create animated pictures and videos for children’s health that could be multilingual, and can be screened        nationally in classes or using mobile health as a medium to disseminate the audio visuals .

3. Have a chapter and subject called ‘Essentials of health’ , which is exam based

4. Define child health and check-up guidelines on the lines of vaccination charts till the age of 15 years. This can

be done by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and incorporated in the school curriculum.

5. Child obesity is a serious issue, and this can be addressed by giving right knowledge about ‘Calorie exchanges’. Since parents teach the children, they will also get educated on the same and impact the family’s health. This must be added in school curriculum from class 3 onwards

6. Work outs or Yoga / mediation must be introduced in all schools

  1. All schools must have ideal height / weight / age charts in all classes, and every 6 months these must be reported in the half-yearly and annual report card. The same way as attendance, neatness , punctuality etc. are reported in class report cards at the PTMs (Parents Teachers meetings)
  2. It would be a great move if we start giving out 3 %marks or give a grading of A, B or C ( A for being fit for standards , B for borderline & needs improvement  & C for being much below the child health metrics ), for various health indicators like dental hygiene, height and weight (BMI – Body Mass Index ), hemoglobin, Vitamin B & D etc.
  3. Each school / college should have a full-time doctor / health educator
  4. Junk foods & associated calorific intake needs adequate attention in school level awareness campaigns
  5. Children do not realize the importance of having adequate quantity of water, and since, in school, they are sometimes restricted to go to toilets, it is high time that the guidelines are issued to all schools for adequate water consumption & availability of drinking water & toilets in school (It might sound trivial, but it is very

Important).

 

Hope this issue will be given the highest priority and attended at the highest level. We will be raising this issue in parliament though members of Parliament from different political parties

 

For this generation, we are already too late, but we must ensure that the next generation is a healthy one.

 

In hope of the needful

 

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

 

 

 

 

CC:

Shri. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare.

Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister for Communications & IT

Smt.Krishna Tirath, Minister of state (I/C) for Women & Child Development

Dr.Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, GOI.

Shri. T.K.A. Nair, Advisor to the Prime Minister.

Shri Keshav Desiraju, Health Secretary, GOI.

Shri Ashok Thakur, Secretary, Min. of HRD.

Shri Prem Narain, Secretary, Min. for Women & Child Development.

Dr.Jagdish Prasad, DGHS, MOHFW

Dr.K.Srinath Reddy, President, PHFI.

Address at the United Nations

Posted: February 14, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: 12th Five Year Plan, Chronic Disease Management, Digital Health, Disease Management, eHealth, Healthcare, Healthcare System, mHealth, NCHRH, NRHM, Rural Health, Telehealth, Telemedicine, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rajendra Pratap Gupta spoke at the United Nations General Assembly Hall on the issue of NCDs ( Chronic Diseases). This was for the Heads of State Summit on NCDs.

UN post the MDG’s – Roundtable dated 13th Februrary , 2013

Posted: February 14, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: 12th Five Year Plan, Chronic Disease Management, Digital Health, Disease Management, eHealth, Healthcare, Healthcare System, mHealth, NCHRH, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Yesterday, i participated in the meeting of what the United Nations must do to the MDG’s ( millenium Development Goals ) post 2015 , when the MDG’s comes to an end in terms of the timeline .

I have suggested that ‘ without sustainable livelihoods for a family’ , MDG’s could never be achieved , so this must come at the forefront .

Access to ICT’s should be made a MDG

Improving life expectancy makes sense seeing the infant mortality and maternal mortality

Further , the MDG’s related to health be ‘clubbed’ and the definition be expanded to provide access to ‘ Preventive health’ as a MDG

Multi-skilling along with education needs to be put than the universal primary education as a MDG

Also, private sector needs to be involved in conceptualization , planning and execution . I further added , that , if the private sector was involved as a partner in MNAREGA and MRHM , things would have been different

Charity is as deep as profits …… time to work as a TEAM ( PPP), else ‘laudable’ goals will become ‘laughable’

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

http://www.indianhealthcareblog.com

Auditing of the unused budgetary allocations for Healthcare sector

Posted: January 2, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: 12th Five Year Plan, Chronic Disease Management, Digital Health, Disease Management, eHealth, Healthcare, Healthcare System, mHealth, NCHRH, NRHM, Rural Health | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DMAI

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

President & Board member

 

December 27th, 2012

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi

Chairman

Public Accounts Committee

6, Raisina road, New Delhi 110001

 

Ref: Auditing of the unused budgetary allocations for Healthcare sector

Dear Dr. Joshi,

Greetings from the Disease Management Association of India (DMAI).

This has reference to the meeting at your residence on 25th December 2012, and the discussions that we had on the Public Accounts Committee report on NRHM  (PAC NO. 1939). I have gone through the PAC report submitted by your good self to the Parliament. I wish to draw attention to the following references in your report;

Page 9: Mission Steering Group (MSG) was required to periodically monitor progress of the mission and to meet twice a year.  Audit scrutiny revealed that MSG met only four times in four years instead of 8 times as per the laid guidelines.

The delegation of powers to the MSG and EPC (Empowered Programme Committee) was subject to the condition that a progress report regarding NRHM, also indicating deviation from the financial norms and modifications in ongoing schemes, would be placed before the cabinet on an annual basis. However, during the past four years, the Mission had submitted a progress report to the Cabinet only once in August 2008 (as per the PAC report).

Page 12: Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in RCH services is not up to the expected levels

Page 18: Regarding composition & functioning of the VHSC (Village Health & Sanitation Committee)

Secretary Health’s statement,

“To be very honest with you, we have got a survey done recently by the Institute of Population Sciences, and yesterday they gave us a presentation. It is not a very happy picture on the village health societies. In many of them, people did not know if they existed; they did not know who the members are; they did not know if they are functioning; that was the finding of the planning Commission’s mid-term review also, when they had gone round the country and seen… that is VHND. There is certainly a vision in the NRHM when it was designed. That has not been fructified……….

“ Our experience with Panchayat raj is not good. They also complained about it. Half of the fund is not spent because he is the co-signatory – either he is not living in the village or if he is, he harasses her and why should she sign? The entire Panchayat raj system, with due respect, has not really worked; the ideal is one thing, but practically it is not; those who take interest, have got excellent experience, but those who are not interested, it is not good. It is very difficult for these people; it has not worked out well”.

Page 19:  Health Secretary’s response on, “how the ministry ensures that the disbursal of funds by the state health societies to VHSCs is monitored”?

“This is a huge task for the states. They are finding it very difficult to keep a track of so many small accounts. But we have given them accountant at every block level. In a block there will be some 100 VHSCs. He should have been able to get these accounts and see what they have spent on and do the auditing. We will have to streamline it further and get them to do the auditing. But we suspect about Rs.100-200 Crore lying unspent. That is our present assessment”

Page 20: Table 3 highlights the gap between the funds released and expenditure.

Page 23: Point 55, “ However, the Ministry have clarified that actual utilization of the funds allocated shall depend upon a number of factors in particular the absorptive capacity of the system. In fact, one of the argument put forward by many is that while the actual allocation in the Eleventh Plan was lower than the original plan allocation, the actual expenditure has still been lower i.e. the system has not been able to utilize the curtailed outlay”

Page 28: “It may be observed that rural households account for around 55 % of the total out of pocket expenditure within the country”

Page 31: Audit examination revealed that 71 PHCs (11 per cent) in 15 states were functioning without an allopathic doctor. In 518 PHCs (86 per cent) of 28 States / UTs, an AYUSH doctor had never been appointed. 69 test checked PHCs were functioning without an allopathic doctor or an AYUSH doctor. This meant that population residing in their sphere of coverage had no doctor available at all in the public domain. In Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura and Lakshadweep, none of the test checked centres had an AYUSH doctor.

Page 33: “As per norms, Specialists are appointed only at CHCs level and not at PHCs level. As per the data available in Bulletin on Rural Health Statistics in India (Updated up to March 09), a total of 5789 specialists are in a position at CHCs across the country, as against the sanctioned posts of 9028 specialists…………”

Dr. Joshi, as discussed during our meeting, it is imperative that the PAC / CAG, or any competent independent regulator, starts the audit of unspent funds allocated for each social sector so that the benefit of the plan reaches the targeted population. As DMAI, we would be interested in pursuing this issue further with the concerned authorities. Also, a clear and enabling policy framework is required, so that the bureaucrats can take decisions without fear on fund allocation utilization, and the absorptive capacity of the system increases to 100 %.

I have been visiting the rural sub-centres and have been gathering first hand information about the impact of NRHM. This communiqué is marked to the PMO and MOHFW for information. Will meet you shortly with more details

Thanks for your continued support

Best wishes for a great year ahead, & tons of good wishes for your birthday, in advance. Wish you good health & long life.

With best regards

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

CC:  Dr.Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister,

Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, MOHFW

Dr.Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission

Secretary – MOHFW

DGHS

President , PHFI

DMAI wants PAC to start auditing unspent govt funds for healthcare

Posted: December 31, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DMAI wants PAC to start auditing unspent govt funds for healthcare
Suja Nair Shirodkar, Mumbai
Monday, December 31, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]
 

The Disease Management Association of India (DMAI) has urged the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), set up for the auditing of government expenditures to various sectors, to seriously consider auditing of unspent funds to the healthcare sector. In a representation made to Dr Murali Manohar Joshi, chairman of PAC, the association stressed it is essential to bring in accountability and transparency on why the funds that have been allocated for the use in various sectors go unused in spite of the requirement.

DMAI stressed that it has been observed time and again that a huge chunk of the allocated funds go back to the government exchequer, because the officials handling the responsibility was not able to use it appropriately. This they fear is because the officials who handle the charge either does not understand the need of the sector or they remain carefree since they are not questioned.

Rajendra Pratap Gupta, president, DMAI, pointed out that in healthcare sector which requires a major financial thrust from the government for various programmes, it has been noticed that a most of the funds assigned are either not released on time or are at times not released for the benefit of the sector. “There is already a huge hue and cry over the lack of insufficient funds kept aside for the healthcare sector. To make matters worse even from that funds allocated for the upliftment of the sector, a huge share goes without being spent, unused back to the government. We feel that this is because the administers do not feel answerable to the money unspent, since as of now they are only accountable for the expenditure made by the government.”

Gupta further added that for better administrative purpose and to ensure effective and timely use of the allocated funds to development purpose it is essential to start questioning the officials on unused government money. PAC which consist of selected members from the parliament, was constituted by the parliament for the auditing the expenditure of the government. However the DMAI stressed that along with getting the accountability of all the expenditure there is also an urgent need to get reasons on why the government have been lacking behind in spending money on much needed plans when the money was already sidelined for the same under the budgetary plan.

After the meeting with the chairman of PAC it was agreed upon by both the parties that there is a need to address this issues at the earliest. It is understood that following the meeting Dr Joshi has asked DMAI to submit a detailed data on all the unused funds in the healthcare sector compared to its requirement based on which they will be taking the required action.

DMAI informed that they have already started the work on this matter and will soon be sending the data to the government with updated data for their perusal.

http://pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=72938&sid=1
 

Pre-emptive care – A new model of care

Posted: December 27, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Image

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

President & Member

Board of Directors

Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad

Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               October 10th, 2012

Government of India.

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi – 110108.

Reference: Empowering people , ‘Pre-emptive care’ model & update on the Government Industry Dialogue

Dear Shri Azad ji,

Hope this finds you doing good.

I attended a workshop for health ministers of NDA two days ago . During the workshop , we also visited a village in Gadhchiroli ( A naxalite area in Maharashtra ).  Here, I came across a 7th class failed lady who has been delivering healthcare information and advice in the village for many years on mother and child health, and out of the past five years , the village has been ‘Child death free’ for four years .

This service of the 7th class failed lady makes me believe that time has come to move from, ‘Health for All’ to ‘All for Health’ and under this ,

  • Move to a system for self care
  • We must come out with a healthcare booklet for all the citizens in regional languages
  • Give generic names with prices for medicines ( OTC – Over the country or non-prescription pharma or non-pharma products ) , for common seasonal and acute ailments
  • Also, the Government must make this booklet available to all the citizens on its website & as an application in Android / Nokia and other phone operating systems. It is time to empower people to take to primary and preventive care . Healthcare indications with OTC products application must be made mandatory in all languages for cell phones sold in India . May be, MOCIT ( Ministry of Communications & IT ) can take the lead in doing this .

More than 3 years back , I had written in the document titled ‘Healthcare  reforms agenda’ (http://www.dmai.org.in/Healthcare_Reforms_Agenda.pdf ) , about ‘mass screenings’ for people,  and I am glad that your ministry has accepted it , and has already done over 10 million screenings in the past 10 months , which is really commendable .  Now , it is time for India to move from ‘Preventive’ care to ‘Pre-emptive’ care ( till now, I haven’t heard this word used for health ! ).

‘Pre-emptive healthcare’ ( Before teen age ) ,  starts before the age ( late twenties ), when ‘Preventive care’ starts . It would include ;

  • Starting with health screening for children when they turn the age of 10  . Earlier the better !  So that children grow up healthy .
  • The screenings will include obesity , blood pressure and diabetes screenings, every 6 months . These checks would not cost more than Rs. 10 a year , but can help in making India the healthiest nation !
  • Also, major healthcare problems arise due to deficiency of vitamins A, D & B & Omega 3. We must recommend guidelines for all children to undergo tests for deficiency of these vitamins and Omega 3, and also tie up with national level labs for offering these tests at rates mutually agreed by the Government . I understand that currently , it is difficult to have a test for Omega 3 in India, even if one needs to get it done !
  • Also, dental examination and eye check – ups must be made mandatory from the age of 6 years

We should, therefore, focus on drafting the child health guidelines and ensure that these become the basic requirement for school admissions and thus, are enforced nationally.

Lastly , on the Government Industry Dialogue (GID) for Healthcare that was organized by the Disease Management Association of India (DMAI) . I understand that you could not attend due to your pre-occupation, but I did receive the note conveying your good wishes for this initiative. This dialogue was a massive success with 60 CEO’s from the Healthcare sector companies attending the dialogue and was addressed by ;

  • Dr.Sam Pitroda , Advisor to the Prime-Minister
  • Shri Keshav Desiraju, Spl. Secretary , MOHFW
  • Dr.Ashok Kumar – representing the DGHS , Dr.Jagdish Prasad
  • Shri. Anil Swarup, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment
  • Dr.K.Srinath Reddy, President , PHFI & Chairman, High Level Expert Group on Universal Coverage
  • Dr.Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group;
  • Besides CEO’s & Managing Directors of leadings healthcare corporations

Besides , the dialogue was well attended by the media . Details of the deliberations are available on http://governmentindustrydialogue.org

This dialogue showed the keenness from both the sides ( Industry & the Government ) to work shoulder to shoulder to address the key healthcare challenges facing the nation .

Three areas of cooperation have emerged; i.e. adoption of districts under mass screening programs , companies willing to work on secondary prevention program in addition to the mass screening program , IT & mHealth companies willing to provide innovative solutions for managing chronic diseases and program evaluation tools, training front line health workers & Rural health . It would be good if the MOHFW now moves to focused meetings under the Government Industry Dialogue to decide the scope of collaboration specific to each program. I am sure that this will lead to more effective implementation of existing programs . I look forward to your guidance on the same.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be attending meetings in USA – ‘International Wellness and Chronic Care Symposium’,  and in Manila – ‘The Asia Pacific Leadership & Policy Dialogue’, hosted by WHO and the World Economic Forum for digital health . Will update you on the developments

With best regards ,

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

CC.

Dr.Manmohan Singh, Prime Minster, Govt. of India.

Dr.Sam Pitroda ,Advisor to the Prime Minister of India .

Shri Keshav Desiraju, Special Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, GOI.

Shri Anil Swarup, Addl Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment , GOI

Dr.K.Srinaty Reddy, President , PHFI & Chairman, HLEG- Universal Coverage

Dr.Jagdish Prasad, DGHS, Min. of Health & Family Welfare, GOI.

Telemedicon’11 – A super hit Healthcare Event

Posted: November 16, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: 12th Five Year Plan, Healthcare, Healthcare System, NCHRH, NRHM, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

Dear Friend ,

 

It is said that ‘Good things happen to good people and the best to the best’ . It was the best of speakers , delegates & exhibitors from all over the world that made Telemedicon’11 the best healthcare event in India . I must thank you on behalf of the Organizing committee of the ‘Telemedicine Society of India’, to have come and actively participated in this mega healthcare congress. I am happy to let you know that Telemedicon’11 has been rated by industry as the ‘Biggest Healthcare Congress ever happened in this country ‘ , and I wish to thank you for taking this congress to such a level. We have set a new benchmark in terms of speakers ,  agenda , delegates and industry participation . Thanks for being a part of this historical event

 

We had an overwhelming response from one and all which can be judged from the fact that  all the exhibitor space was sold out weeks before the congress. Also  that, we had to stop the registration process few days before the congress .

 

People from over 30 countries visited the congress and people from 121 countries have visited the congress website

 

We launched the Continua Health Alliance on 13th November at this congress , and this makes this congress a very special one

 

We have the policy makers commitment to taking the ‘Telemedicine Beyond the Pilot Phase’ . I am working on three projects to address the issues of,  ‘Infant Mortality & Maternal Mortality’ ,  ‘Chronic diseases’ and  ‘rural health’ – using technology. Three companies have already expressed the wish to actively participate in this venture . The impact of this venture would be showcased not only in the next Telemedicon , but also in all the leading healthcare conferences across the globe in 2012. If you also have a product or service in the domain , please do write back . Shri Sachin Pilot , Union Minister of State for Information Technology , Government of India ;  Aneesh Chopra , Asst. to the President & USA’s CTO ; Shri Shankar Aggarwal , Addl. Secretary, DIT , Government of India ; Dr.Dale Alverson , Past President of American Telemedicine Association ; Iboun Sylla from Texas Instruments, USA ; Clint Mc Clellan , President , Continua Health Alliance ; Ashok Chandavarkar from Intel & Dr.Pramod Gaur , USA have agreed to help make this project a reality .

 

Blackberry is already working on three Game Changing Ideas put across at this International Telemedicine Congress, and will invest to make them a reality .

 

I am also in the final phase of drafting India’s  first Telehealth Report for 2011 , and please send us a one pager of your organization , if you were a sponsor at Telemedicon by November 30th , 2011.  The report would be ready in the next 45 days

 

Let’s work together to take Telemedicine to masses and show the world that India is the place for innovation in action

 

Keep visiting the website for latest updates on the proceedings of Telemedicon’11

 

We will be uploading the photographs & videos as well as presentations for you to download . Please do share your feedback

 

Thanks once again for your support and I look forward to working closely with you in the times ahead

 

Best regards

 

Rajendra Pratap Gupta

Member , Executive Council

Telemedicine Society of India.

Email : office.rajendra@gmail.com

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