The recent outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Bihar leading to a rising death toll of children points to the dilapidated public healthcare system in the country.
According to the latest data available with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, about 79.5% of the 1,719 villages of the Muzaffarpur district in Bihar do not have access to healthcare facilities. Moreover, Bihar health officials reportedly said that Encephalitis cases have been witnessed in poorly developed areas with rudimentary health infrastructure. The dismal state of affairs is not limited to Bihar. Deaths of new born babies and children in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh is equally worrying.
The healthcare system is one of the most important pillars in the developmental journey of any country. The fire part of healthcare is treatment part. The second part is associated with the overall physical and health position of the citizens of a country, including their overall environment and nutrition level. The latter is quite important as it is directly associated with the overall health condition of the county’s population.
Importance of healthcare in an economy
Professor Amartya Sen and many other social scientists have been categorically emphasising on the importance of healthcare and education in an economy. Prof. Sen delivered a lecture at the launch of the International Centre for Human Development on January 4, 2012, at New Delhi. He said, “Education, healthcare and expanding productivity of human beings not only help human life, which is the primary impact, but, it also makes economic growth possible and easier. China went in that direction and went for universal education straightaway even before its economic reforms. China has continued to grow faster than India.”
Denne historien er fra July 1-15, 2019-utgaven av BUSINESS ECONOMICS.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 1-15, 2019-utgaven av BUSINESS ECONOMICS.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Deposit shortage: challenges facing India's banking ecosystem
In any macroeconomic framework, the household sector plays a critical role as a driver consumption, savings, and overall economic activity.
India's future dreams in Semiconductors & AI
A midst the gloom of the RG Kar affair or the Tirupati laddu scam or even the continued terrorist attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, even after the completion of the first general election in the state, we find hope and encouragement when the founder of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, in his recent visit to India says \"India will be a gigantic opportunity for us\".
The Ramayana: Justice and Modern Man
Consisting of Twenty-Four Thousand worthy Sanskrit verses, the Ramayana is one such epic, which provides a pathway to one committed to justice to establish himself as an ideal human being by following the exemplary life of its hero.
Vallabhbhai Patel: A Sardar of Farmers, A Matchless Social Reformer and the Maker of United India
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in unifying the princely states to form the Union of India.
Understanding Prosperity: NOBEL Prize awarded for groundbreaking research on institutions and economic development
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Memory of Alfred Nobel to three US-based economistsDaron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson\"for their studies on how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.\"
Sinking Resources: Groundwater crisis and sustainable solutions in Kolkata
Kolkata's underground water crisis is becoming a serious issue, driven by rapid urbanization and the construction of high-rise buildings.
Tourism Industry positively impacted by the festive season
Diwali transforms streets into a spectacle of festive lights, Diwali transforms streets into olis, and families gearing up for grand celebrations.
RBI's Shift to a Neutral Stance: Signaling a New Phase in Monetary Policy
For over a year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a firm stance against inflation, raising interest rates by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023 in response to post-pandemic price pressures.
UK Budget
There _ he latest UK budget represents a departure from previous fiscal documents.
Han Kang's Historic Nobel Prize Win
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to T South Korean writer Han Kang, 53, known for her works including The Vegetarian, The White Book, Human Acts, and Greek Lessons.