Vision Healthy Indians committee of Punjab IMA presents its second report to CMO Ludhiana, Dr Rajeev Bhalla

Ludhiana, December 19, 2016: Vision Healthy Indians committee of Punjab IMA presented its second report to CMO Ludhiana, Dr Rajeev Bhalla today.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Narotam Dewan, Chairman of the committee said that IMA Punjab entrusted them the job, to think out of the box solutions for surmounting health problems of Indians.

Dr Dewan said that vision is a foresight, a new concept and new imagination which shall be a game changer. Vision unfolds the potentials which lay untapped. Vision can be the driving and guiding force which can transform our future for better.

Office bearers of the local Ludhiana branch of Vision Healthy Indians Committee Dr Nirjit Kaur, Dr Sanjeev Uppal, Dr SC Garg, Dr PS Brar, Dr Satish Ohri, Dr Anakhveer Gill, Dr RK Sharma, Dr PS Gulati were also present on the occasion.

Dr Narotam Dewan honoured CMO Ludhiana, Dr Rajeev Bhalla by presenting a shawl and Dr Nirjit Kaur presented him a bouquet of flowers.

The second report of “Vision Healthy Indians” Committee is as under:
1. Creation of central Health Insurance Corporation of India (HIC) and reforms in Medi-claim services:
a. Life Insurance Co. of India is a death insurance.
b. The committee recommends either LIC should start providing health insurance or another corporation by the name of HIC – Health Insurance Corporation of India should be created.
c. Reforms Required In Mediclaim & TPA Insurance Sectors: Multiple TPA and health insurance companies are having varying rules and regulations and varying registration policies for hospitals & nursing homes. Selective registrations is generating corruption. Committee recommends uniform rates and rules for all companies. All doctors registered under medical councils should get automatic registration on the panel of health insurance companies and TPAs. This will set patients free to choose nursing home and hospital of choice.
2. Uplifting all state and central Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals to International standards. –
a. The committee recommends that all central, military and state hospitals must be raised to international standards immediately by making proper budgetary prepositions. Committee also recommends establishing a mega hospital on the pattern of AIIMS in all districts of India.

b. The committee recommends to merge the doctors from teaching cadre of Government hospitals with the doctors working in the civil services.

c. It should be made mandatory for all states Governments to create specialized adequate facilities for patients of trauma, cancer, heart, psychiatry, degenerative diseases, endocrine disease, respiratory diseases etc.

3. Creating a Mega Central Medical University-
Multiplicity of small deemed medical universities in India are not able to direct medical research and maintain standards of medical education.

Committee recommends to replace all these deemed medical universities by a Mega Central Medical University to organize and regulate medical education and research.

4. Introduction of a Full-fledged Subject on Health in Schools -
School/college pass outs have poor knowledge about health. This leads them to the wrong doors of unscrupulous faith healers/quacks etc..
Committee recommends that to impart health awareness at impressionable young age regular subject of health be introduced in schools/colleges curriculum.

5. To encourage and support private health facilities especially in the residential areas: -

Our cities are spread wide and roads are congested. Large number of citizens do not have vehicle. So, it is difficult for people to reach central hospitals in time. Our ambulances are like mini tempos without trained staff and life supporting equipment. Often patients are refused admissions as no beds are available as was witnessed during recent Chikungunya epidemic. To save their lives private hospital, nursing home and clinics close to the residences of the patients are very useful.
The committee feels that the health facilities created and run by private sector in the residential areas are great boon to the public of India and recommends that nursing homes, hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in residential areas should not be discouraged. These useful facilities must be encouraged and supported by the Government. All existing health facilities in residential areas should be approved and given permission to carry on. The narrower a road the more is the need of a health facility to be on that road near to doorsteps of the patients.
6. Making medical education free or available at nominal expenses:

Medical colleges have become money spinning commercial hubs. Industrialists, politicians and businessmen have established medical colleges to earn maximum amount of money from would be doctors.

It is an open secret that unimaginable amounts of capitation fees are being charged by medical colleges. The student fee in private and even Government medical colleges is prohibitive.

Committee strongly recommends that interest free education loans should be provided to medical student to pay their fee and purchase books etc.

The committee recommends that all medical education at all levels for all Indians be provided absolutely free of cost.

7. To remove all type of taxes on medicines and material used purely for medical/surgical use.

Even many developed countries are providing free medicines to their citizens as only mentally, socially and physically healthy citizens can make a strong and healthy nation. As per act passed in the Parliament of our country our Government is totally responsible to provide complete health care facilities of all Indians. But, the irony is that there is DISEASE TAX in India. Any Indian who falls ill is forced to pay indirect tax levied on medicines, syringes, injections, tablets, dressings, ointments etc. This is not the right thing to do. Taxing medicines or other articles required exclusively for the treatment of ill Indians is not justifiable.

Committee recommends that all these taxes be withdrawn immediately. These are the most brutal taxes worse than jizya tax imposed by Aurangzeb.”