CIVICS (VII)-LESSON-2 ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN HEALTH (LESSON NOTES)

CIVICS (VII)-LESSON-2

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN HEALTH

(LESSON NOTES)

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v INTRODUCTION

Ø People in democratic countries such as India expect the government to work for their welfare, usually by providing services such as affordable houses, basic education, good healthcare, productive employment, etc.In this lesson, we look at what governments do for people's welfare, particularly in providing healthcare services to the people.

v HEALTH

Ø Our ability or capacity to remain free from diseases and hurts is called as health. In present time it also includes to do work actively in good spirits. 

v The Indian Healthcare System-Development but problems

Ø India is the fourth-largest producer of medicines in the world, but India also has one of the largest populations in the world.

Ø India also gets a lot of medical tourists for their treatments. But many people in India even today don't get enough clean water to drink and nutritious food.

Ø Although many Indians become doctors and nurses, most of them take up jobs in the cities. So the people in the villages either don't get good healthcare.

Ø Healthcare facilities have grown in  India but five lakh people die from tuberculosis and other water born diseases diarrhoea, worms, hepatitis.

v HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Ø In order to prevent and treat illnesses, we need proper healthcare facilities such as health centres, hospitals, laboratories for testing, ambulance services, blood banks, etc.

Ø We also need health workers, nurses, qualified doctors and other health professionals who can advice, diagnose and treat illnesses. We also need the medicines and equipment that are necessary for treating patients.

v SYSTEMS OF HEALTHCARE

Ø PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

§  The public healthcare system is a network of clinics and hospitals run by the government in both rural and urban areas

§  It is called a public system because it has to provide healthcare to all of the nation's citizens.

§  It is an integrated system which control Primary health centers under district hospital.

§  Important function of public healthcare is to prevent the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, etc.

§  This can be done only when the government and the people of the country work together towards being healthy.

Ø PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

§  The healthcare system which is owned and operated by individual of group of people is called as private health care system.

§   India has many private healthcare facilities such as clinics, hospitals, laboratories, colleges, etc.

v DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

PUBLIC HEALTHCARE	PRIVATE HEALTHCARE
1.It is under the government.	It is run by individual person or company.
2. It is integrated system.	It is not connected to other group.
3. The treatment is affordable.	The treatment is costly.
4. It also work to prevent the disease.	It does not work on this as these are profit oriented.

v INEQUALITIES IN PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

Ø Although India is a democracy, but all Indians did not get equally good healthcare.

Ø This is because the population of India is huge, and also because most new medical staff and facilities are in the cities, whereas most Indians live in villages.

Ø Most healthcare systems in towns and cities are privately run for a profit, and are too expensive for many people; barely 20% of the population can afford all the medicines they need.

Ø According to one study, 40% of the patients in hospitals have to borrow money or sell their possessions to pay for their medical expenses.

v SOLUTIONS AND CONCLUSION

Ø In a democratic country like India, it is the responsibility of the government to provide proper healthcare facilities to all its citizens.

Ø Basic medical facilities should be available to everyone, everywhere, and not just to rich people in the cities.

Ø A country's government and people have to work together to improve the health of the nation.

v The Kerala Experience

Ø In 1996, the government of the state of Kerala gave 40% of its budget to the rural Panchayats, and the freedom to plan and provide for the needs in their villages.

Ø This led to some positive changes as the money was used for the betterment of all the facilities in the village. For example: proper planning was done for water supply, education, working of schools, etc.

v The Costa Rica Approach

Ø Many years ago, the Costa Rican government took a very important decision of not having a national army. This meant that all the money which was used to manage the army could be used for other, more useful projects such as health, education, and meeting other basic needs of the people.

Ø The Costa Rican government took this step because it believes that a healthy population is the most important factor in the development of any country.

v Glossory

v Public: An activity or service that is meant for all people in the country and is mainly organised by the government. This includes schools, hospitals, telephone services, etc. People can demand these services and also raise questions about their non-functioning.

v Private: An activity or service that is organised by an individual or company for their own profit.

v Medical tourists: This refers to foreigners who come to this country specifically for medical treatment at hospitals that offer world–class facilities at a lower cost than what they would have to pay in their own countries.

v Communicable diseases: These are diseases that are spread from one person to another in many ways such as through water, food , air, etc.

v OPD: This is the short form for ‘Out Patient Department’. This is where people are first brought in and treated in a hospital without being admitted to any special war.

v UNICEF-United Nation International Children Emergency Fund