No right more fundamental than right to health: KG Balakrishnan, NHRC Chairman

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the limited reach of public health services and the high cost of private treatment in the country, National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Justice (retd) KG Balakrishnan, today said "no right is more fundamental than the right to health".

"Limited reach of the public health system and high cost of private treatment are points of concern. The progress in the health sector is very slow, impacted by a shortage of doctors, paramedical staff and ethical issues related to clinical drug trials, drug pricing and unnecessary surgeries," Balakrishnan said.

Inaugurating a two-day national conference here on 'Health Care as a Human Right', he said that the success of a public health system lay in easy accessibility, availability and affordability of treatment.

NHRC has taken a proactive approach on the issue of right to health and has consistently held the view that ensuring comprehensive healthcare for all was the responsibility of the state, Balakrishnan said.

"The doctor-patient ratio in the country may not be good, as per statistics, but a doctor can be easily accessible in India... with a good doctor-patient ratio," Balakrishnan, the former Supreme Court Chief Justice, added.

Manoj Jhalani, Joint Secretary of the Union Health Ministry, said that a paradigm shift was required in the medical care system in the country.

Public health spending, which is at present at 1.2 per cent of the GDP, needs to be improved as more than 70 per cent of the expenditure on treatment and medicine was being borne by people out of their own pockets.

"Universal healthcare is the need of the hour to ensure cashless treatment. The government is moving towards that goal and the National Rural Health Mission is a step in that direction," Jhalani added.

The conference will dwell on various issues like, among others, availability, accessibility, quality and affordability of healthcare services in India, the need for universal healthcare, women and children's health, clean drinking water, hygiene and sanitation, etc.

Several experts, representatives from the central and state governments, civil society, NHRC members and senior officers will be participating in the discussions at the conference.

The recommendations evolving out of the deliberations would be sent to the government.