By IANS
New Delhi : India should allocate more funds for its public health delivery system, especially to “save the lives of children and mothers” living in rural areas, said an international expert here Saturday.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, who heads the international advisory panel on National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), considered to be one of the biggest ever health programmes in the country, said the project should get full backing from politicians.
“It is the biggest ever project that has helped in saving the lives of children so that they could grow up to become productive members of society. Traditionally, the budget for public health has been less than one percent of national income, it should be more than three percent,” he said at the third meeting of the panel, which was chaired by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss Saturday.
Sachs, who is the director of centre on globalisation and sustainable development of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, said it is important for the political leadership to give commitment for public health projects.
The budget for NRHM, which works among the people living in rural areas, is Rs.12 billion ($303 million) for the current year.
“Public health services in India have been relatively neglected. But now, there has been remarkable achievement in India in this sector. Some of the schemes under the NRHM have already shown impressive results. Women are now opting for institutional deliveries, which has made it safe for the newborn and the mother,” he added.
Ramadoss said the project, launched in 2005, has already shown some positive results.
Over 400,000 women community workers known as ASHAs are working in the rural areas. ASHAs are engaged in creating awareness about health related problems in villages and are also providing medical aid, the minister said.
He added that around 8,756 primary health centres are working round the clock, while other health facilities in villages have been upgraded.