WE THE PEOPLE
One Maternity Hospital for 6 million people in J&K far below national standard
Hence launching Arrogya Sena by Dr Vadiya in Kashmir Valley shall go a long way in meeting our health needs
By: R. Makhdoomi
Srinagar: Although the Indian government has of late provided various perks for the development of private healthcare services in the country, yet the public health sector has suffered for want of adequate funding and proper monitoring. The structural adjustment and economic reforms programme that began in 1992 caused a further shrinking of resource allotment for public health services, and introduction of such reforms struck the final blow to the poor, who represent the majority of country and have lone hope on public health facilities. Even the top most Medicos of the country accept this reality.
Dr. Abhijit Vaidya, a renowned physician and cardiologist, who founded the famous Arrogya Sena (Health Army) on 12th March, 1995 at Bedse, a tiny village in the state of Maharashtra and was recently in the valley of Kashmir to kick start Arrogya sena. He is also currently the Head of Arrogya Sena.
While talking exclusively to the correspondent of “Mirror of Kashmir”, Dr. Abhijit Vaidya Said, “The public health sector of the country which caters to eighty five percent of our population is in utter shambles. The facts are very shameful-We need 7,415 Community Health Centers per 100,000 population. We have less than half the number. The international standard for availability of treatment beds is 333; our national average is just 97. The government has just kept 0.9 percent of GDP for health, while our neighbouring countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh have kept much more provision than us on Health Sector. Worse being at the healthcare facilities, which we have in respect of basic staff and facilities, but half of the doctors are usually absent at Primarily Health Centres. Majority of Public Health Institutions, even the so called prestigious hospitals lack high class specialists. Only 38% of our Primary Health Centres have all the required medical personnel. With the Public Health infrastructure in such shambles, how can the poor count on government health centres?”
“Even in J&K, especially Kashmir valley, the Health Sector presents a gloomy picture .There is just one Public Maternity Hospital for six million people and there is tremendous dearth of Hospitals in the Valley. Even the prestigious hospitals are not up to the mark. We as Arrogya Sena will definitely try our level best to give a new facelift to the Public Health Sector of Kashmir through our activities,” said Dr.Vadiya.
Pertinent to mention here that after working on this idea for nearly two years, Dr. Vaidya founded Arogya Sena (Health Army) on 12th March, 1995 at Bedse, a tiny village from Tal. Maval, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra State, along with his colleagues Satyajit Vaidya, Kamlesh Hajare, Dr. Nitin Ketkar, Dr. Vijay Setiya, Dr. Ramesh Bidwe and local youths. Since then he has been travelling extensively with a team of highly educated and dedicated doctors and volunteers, training people in Disaster Management and Medical Relief Work, binding them into a network of nationwide Organization, motivating them to rush in the events of any disaster and render valuable health services to people .The said organization also highlights basic health care issues and fights for the basic health care needs of the masses. The said Organization is already operational in six states and with starting of Arogya Sena in Kashmir; a lot of hope is pinned on the said Organization.
Hence it is gratifying that Dr Vaidya has studied the contours on the Health Sector map of Kashmir valley, where basic health care facilities are not available to the common masses despite tall claims of the government. The existing Health Care Centres are deficient in respect of basic infrastructure, especially in rural belts, which constitute major segment of our population.But it is intriguing to see that hospitals in Private Sector are rendering valuable service as these are well equipped and well managed. Most of the docs and para-medics working in State Sector lack zest and drive and are generally swayed away by materialistic considerations. This is sad part of our story and if Arogya Sena in Kashmir embarks upon the project, then we might feel the difference!
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