Sujavna 2015 (5)

Sunday 01, February 2015 1330 hrs

I am a little perturbed when I think about the huge effort that is needed by Indian government’s economic planners to make that quantum leap of faith and innovate in the planning process. Check out the draft National Health Plan 2015 document that is now available for feedback, and you will realize why I am frustrated!

The stated goal of attainment of highest possible levels of health and well-being through preventive and promotive healthcare orientation in all development policies, and universal access to good quality healthcare services with minimal financial burden is compounded to a stated desire to ensure that the targeted investment of 2.5% of GDP I public health expenditure is facilitated. But then, what is the policy prescription offered? Sad but true that the government has not thought beyond taxation, a new health cess on the lines of education cess (the impact of which on efficiently delivering on education targets is highly debatable!) and increasing specific commodity taxes, such as those on cigarettes and alcohol. Perhaps as an afterthought, the document mentions that leveraging the CSR spends of corporates can be an additional source of investments. This despite the fact that there is already a huge debate about the whole taxation aspect of mandatory CSR spends and there are many other competing CSR areas for future spends.

Now consider this – the draft plan document mentions that 7 task forces will be constituted to map out a whole new framework for preventive and promotive healthcare, and yet the planners have arrived at a nominal expenditure outlay for the sector. A great example of putting the cart before the horse!

What innovations could have been attempted, then? For one, how about innovative financing models such as creation of a National Healthcare Investment Fund that has seed funding from the government, and is tasked with raising and deploying funds for specific objectives of the healthcare plan? Or, how about innovations in addressing the core skills availability challenges by incentivising school students to opt for a 1 year bridge term between their 10^th and 11^th grades, which will fetch them additional points if they were to opt for a medical, nursing or related program after their 12^th grades?

Hope you are having a great weekend.