National Health Policy 2002 – Missing Links between Policy, Politics and Practices:

Abstract

A National Health Policy was formulated in 1983 and revised in 2002 to include the
marked changes in the determinant factors relating to the health sector. The
revised policy framework took into account current demographic transition, socio-
political changes and economic reforms. Disparities and distribution of health care
access, financial status and protection from financial risks have actually increased. Page | 1
There is a transition in the epidemiological patterns of both communicable and non-
communicable diseases. There is a shift in employment and income generating
activities through increased contractual workers in organized and unorganized
sectors. A rapid assessment of policy implementation ten year later shows that it is
still lurching and sometime, deviating from the goals it has set for itself viz., equity,
affordability and accessibility of health care services. It has linked itself to new
technologies without bringing in new human resource policies and milieu,
appropriate to the existing social and cultural background. It has to meet the
challenges in developing required human resources as well as regulating its
management and the quality of services they provide through both private and
public health sectors. It has still to assure a social security to all the socially and
economically vulnerable groups. It needs to develop innovative mix models of
centralized - decentralized health financing system and without doubt cleanse it
from corruption.

Keywords: Health policy, health transition, equity, affordability, accessibility, human

resources, health financing, social security

236 Words

1 |Page Dhruv Mankad 15 October 2010