Details about National Health Policy 2017

"NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY 2017"

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Introduction:

On 15^th March, 2017 the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the National Health Policy, 2017 (NHP, 2017).  The Policy begs to reach everyone in an extensive integrated way to move towards wellness.  It aims at acquire universal health coverage and delivering quality health care services to all at affordable cost. NHP states about increasing public

expenditure on health to 2.5 % of GDP by imposing a Health Cess. NHP was unveiled in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda on March 16, 2017.

Objectives:

• To achieve the highest possible level of good health and well-being, through a preventive and primitive health care orientation in all developmental policies;
• To achieve universal access to good quality health care services without anyone having to face financial hardship as a consequence;
• To provide access and financial protection at secondary and tertiary care levels, the policy proposes free drugs, free diagnostics and free emergency care services in all public hospitals;

Background:

The National Health Policy, 2017 adopted an elaborate procedure for its formulation involving stakeholder consultations. Consequently, the Government of India formulated the Draft National Health Policy and placed it in public domain on 30thDecember, 2014. Thereafter following detailed consultations with the stakeholders and State Governments, based on the suggestions received, the Draft National Health Policy was further fine-tuned. On 27th February, 2016 it received the endorsement of the Central Council for Health & Family Welfare, the pinnacle policy making body, in its Twelfth Conference held.

Features:

• NHP advocates a progressively incremental assurance-based approach.
• NHP notes that health spending annually pushes 60 million Indians into poverty due to huge health costs incurred.
• NHP proposes building public-private partnerships (PPPs) to deliver health care needs and services.
• NHP intends to look into antibiotic resistance and to tackle the abuse of antibiotics by the humans for themselves and also for the livestock.
• NHP also proposes betterment in the secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities through improved technology along with human resources at various levels with appropriate skills.
• NHP intends to address the current and emerging health challenges necessitated by the changing socio-economic, technological and epidemiological scenario.
• NHP mentions that 40% of this raised public health expenditure would come from central sources.
• NHP aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate.
• NHC aims to increase the average life expectancy to 70 years from the current 67.5 years by 2025.
• NHP aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare.
• NHP intends to address the issue of increasing medical expenditures on account of NCDs like cancer, diabetes and heart disorders.