Increase the number of hospital beds, health sector experts tell FM in pre-budget consultations

In pre-budget consultations with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, experts from the health and education sectors urged the government to increase the number of hospital beds and increase awareness about the National Education Policy.

Health experts have suggested ways to improve the health insurance system in Ayushman Bharat so that the poor can access quality healthcare at lower prices, apart from issues focusing on the welfare of the social sector, women and children, two – said people who were at the meeting.

Ayushman Bharat aims to cover over 100 million poor and vulnerable families, or approximately 500 million people, by providing care up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalization under secondary and tertiary care.\

Should have at least 3.5 beds for every thousand: WHO

“We have less than two (hospital) beds per 1,000 people. WHO says we should have at least 3.5 beds per 1,000 people. There is also a huge disparity in bed density across states. For example, Karnataka has four beds per 1,000 people, but Bihar has only 0.3. The government will have to review health policies in the states,” said Girdhar Gyani, director general of the Healthcare Providers Association of India.

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The experts also suggested establishing a separate unit responsible for building awareness of the National Education Policy.

“States need to be made aware of the purpose of the National Education Policy. A separate cell could be created (for this purpose),” said Anant Pandhare, board member of Babasaheb Ambedkar Vaidyakiya Pratishthan.

“The government is keen to promote pro-poor programs such as fighting malnutrition and empowering ASHA workers. The government has taken note of the suggestion to combat childhood diabetes and congenital diabetes,” Pandhare added.

The new education policy, approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2020, proposes several reforms, including private sector research funding, structural changes in school education, creation of a national research foundation, integration of vocational and coding education from upper primary schools, among others other.

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This is the third national education policy since India’s independence.

Eminent experts who participated in Thursday’s consultations included Arvinder J Singh (Ashoka University), Ajit Ranade (Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics), Rukmini Banerjee (Pratham Educational Foundation), Reddy Subrahmanyam, former secretary, higher education and social justice.

Senior finance ministry officials present at Thursday’s meetings include Ajay Seth, secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and principal economic advisor to the government V. Anantha Nageswaran, finance secretary T V Somanathan.

The Finance Minister has already met with economists, representatives of industry, capital markets and the financial sector, farmers’ associations, small and medium-sized enterprises, leaders of the trade and services, employment and skills sectors.

On Saturday, Sitharaman will meet with experts from the infrastructure, energy and cities sectors.