The appalling state of the medical industry was discussed at a forum in the city, with a focus on improving healthcare accessibility and affordability.
“We may have PET and MRI scans. We may be able to do heart transplants. But our rural and remote areas don’t even have simple microscopes to diagnose malaria or tuberculosis,” said Padma Shri Dr H Sudarshan, secretary of Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra and Karuna Trust, about the contrasting sides of India.
The gathering on the final day of the Forum and Workshops on Affordable Healthcare and Water in India at Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore were exposed to the gory state of affairs in healthcare industry as well as the roadmap to a better future.
“The Medical Council of India is not regulating the profession sufficiently because it is busy granting sanctions to medical colleges”, remarked Dr Sudarshan who was also the ex-Vigilance Director of the Karnataka Lokayukta enlightened the professionals of the medical field of the existing corruption and pointed out that good governance is the only way to make healthcare affordable.
The forum burst out in laughter when he asked, “Have you heard of a machine to remove cholesterol from blood?” But Bowring hospital bought an equipment costing Rs60 lakhs to do that and it is lying unused now, he pointed out.
Procurement of equipments and prescription of drugs, the conclave agreed, were two prominent areas of corruption.
“Mere technological packages can improve health outcomes marginally, whereas good governance will result in quantum jump in health outcomes,” Dr Sudarshan spoke with years of experience behind him.
India aims to achieve universal healthcare. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution grants the right to life and with it, comes the right to health. The Directive Principles of State Policy expects the States to improve public health.
“India spends 4.1% of its Gross Domestic Product on healthcare and only 1% is by the state,” stated Ashok GC, advocate and managing partner at CorLit Legal, who also explained the role of patenting in clinical research.
The forum that discussed the appalling figures and the legal perspectives, was followed by diverse workshops in which participants were engaged in creating models that would make healthcare available, accessible and affordable.
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