Healthcare system and collective growth
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 03, 2014 -

RIMS - Regional Institute of Medical Science, Imphal as on 01 January 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

The recent reports on Medical Council of India (MCI) asking Manipur University (MU) not to extend recognition to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal came at a time when serious efforts are being made to expand the scope of healthcare system in the state and beyond by individuals who know the trade intimately.

Here, it should be reminded that RIMS has been serving not only as an institution of learning but also catering to the State’s healthcare system in the literal sense since its establishment in 1972.

Whether or not the infrastructure and academic facilities available at RIMS are restored depends on how RIMS authority manages to convince MCI on the regional institute’s actual status and after conducting a dispassionate review of the adverse report.

However discouraging the recent developments at RIMS may be, those making efforts on providing and improving the present health care system in the State at least have a clear vision on the path to be charted albeit the absence of a public debate.

It has been pointed out more than once that concerted efforts both from private and public sectors are needed to establish a working health care system in the State.

When envisioning bigger vision with the impending changes likely to be brought about by India’s eastward push, it has been made very clear that healthcare system like the rest of other areas associated with infrastructural development would play a key role in the ever expanding economy of the state and the region.

While making efforts to bring in collective growth through sound healthcare system, one should also remember that the Government of India is known for not investing enough in the health of its citizenry.

It is said that India’s public expenditure on health hovers around 1% of its gross domestic product and it is among the lowest in the world. Moreover, a recent decision has slashed the health budget by 20%.

Under such circumstances, any moves on providing healthcare system or even improving the situations of institutes imparting medical sciences has to be calculated in terms of whether or not time and energy given to the health sector deflate the citizens’ health further inflating poverty.

The rapid growth in the private medical sector pegged at 15% per year in India should not be a reason for the dismal decline in the public health system. The poor should also have equal access to healthcare given the almost non-existent social security or health insurance cover in India.

This brings home the truth that any controversy related to infrastructural inadequacy, gross mismanagement and corruption related to health of the people should be monitored not only by the responsible authorities but also discerning citizens so as to push forward towards collective growth.