ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN HEALTH

Q/A
1. What are the different ways through which the government can take steps to provide
healthcare to all? Discuss
Solution: The government can take the following steps in providing basic healthcare to its
citizens

•As in the case of the Kerala government, state governments can empower local
panchayats by funding them, in the process making them a self-reliant healthcare
unit.
• Governments can lay emphasis on imparting education regarding healthcare to the
local populace, such as healthy habits and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
• By providing sanitation, safe drinking water, sanitation and nutrition.
• Organization of free health check-ups on a monthly basis will also play a crucial
role.
2. What do people expect from government in a democracy?
Answer:

• In a democracy people expect the government to work for their welfare.

• This is done through the provision of education, health, employment, housing,
development of roads, electricity, etc.

3. What is health? Explain the factors that affect health.

Answer:
Health:

• Health means our ability to remain free of (from) illness and injuries,.
• Health is not only about disease. It is also associated with other factors.
• Apart from disease we need to think of other factors that affect our health.
• There are other factors that influence our health.
• If people get clean drinking water or a pollution free environment they are likely to be
healthy.
• Conversely if people do not get adequate food to eat or have to live in dirty conditions
they will become victims to illnesses.
• All of us always like to be active and in good spirits.
• It is not healthy to be dull, inactive, anxious or scared for long stretches of time. We all
need to be free from mental strain.

4. What are the improvements in healthcare facilities in India?

Answer:
There are many developments like:
 • Largest number of medical colleges in the world.
• Approximately 15,000 new doctors every year.
• About 18,218 hospitals by year 2000.
• Extension of medical tourism due to low cost of treatments.
• Fourth largest producer of medicines.

5. Write some of the negative aspects of our healthcare system.

Answer:
The following are some of the drawbacks of our healthcare:

• Most doctors settle in urban areas, less doctors in rural areas.

• Two million cases of malaria and five lakh cases of tuberculosis every year.
• Water borne communicable diseases like diarrhoea, hepatitis on the rise. About 21%
has no access to clean water.
• Half of all children are mal-nourished.
• Private health on rise and Public health care system has not grown as per the need.

6. Is adequate healthcare available to all of us? Explain.

Answer:
Adequate healthcare is not available to all.

• Private facilities are increasing but the Public services are not.
• Private services are concentrated in urban areas and are costly.
• Poor have to go to Public services which are crowded. They have to borrow money in
case of an illness in the family.
• Sometime wrong practices are encouraged to earn more money—like prescribing
unnecessary medicines or tests.
• Only about 20% can afford all the medicines required and more than 40% have to
borrow money.
• In case of women and tribal areas the health concerns are ignored.