Right to Healthcare

A national health policy is primarily a statement of intent. This is primarily what the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 has done. However, even in this, and the framework for implementation that it lays out, it falls short on a number of counts. One aspect that raises concern is the disproportionate role envisaged for the private sector in healthcare delivery.

After the Alma-Ata declaration on primary healthcare, India adopted its first NHP in 1983, followed by the second NHP in 2002. Although health indicators like mortality, life expectancy and disease prevalence have improved, especially with the institution of the National Rural Health Mission in 2005, the targets set for mortality rates, life expectancy, and disease prevalence have remained elusive. Predictably, the NHP 2017 has pushed the dates to meet these targets further along.