Prescriptions for Health Sector

Recognizing the urgent need to improve the performance of health care system in the country the Central government recently released the Draft National Health Policy 2015 document. It is now in the public domain seeking comments from various stakeholders. The document...

Centre moots health as a fundamental right

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has suggested making health a fundamental right, similar to education. This key proposal in the draft National Health Policy, 2015, suggests making denial of health an offence. Thirteen years after the previous health...

Subir Roy: Say goodbye to national health policy

The draft national health policy, issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare late last year, does not just stress implementation. It adds that there should be a framework that will "specify approved financial allocations and linked to this measurable...

Centre’s move irks health activists

Public health activists expressed dismay and outrage at the central government's decision to scrap the idea of a centrally supported free drug scheme. The scheme was initiated after several studies had shown that medicines constitute about 67% of people's expenditure...

Number of women tobacco users rising

The number of women consuming tobacco products has doubled over 15 years, according to a report by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI).While only 10% of women consumed tobacco products during the mid- and late-1990s, the number has increased to 20% in recent...