NHRC issues notice to Secretary Ministry of Health over poor healthcare in India

INDIA—The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has notified the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Secretary over Concerns about providing poor healthcare facilities to people at the grassroots level across states. 

This move follows a detailed petition by Supreme Court advocate and human rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, highlighting deficiencies in healthcare facilities and infrastructure.

The commission calls for an action-taken report within four weeks. 

Tripathy’s petition emphasized the dire situation in Odisha, where Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs) are severely lacking. 

He described patients being forced to lie on floors, with some even left naked. 

He called for significant improvements, including staff electronic attendance, measures to curb private practice among doctors, and the establishment of super-specialty hospitals every hundred kilometers.

Tripathy also pointed out the national scope of the problem, citing widespread deficiencies in healthcare services and infrastructure across various states. 

He noted the shortage of PHCs and CHCs, particularly in the northeast region, and called for transparent procurement policies, adequate medical supplies, and improved communication facilities. 

He emphasized the urgent need for a robust primary healthcare system that ensures basic human rights and complies with national and international health mandates.

The NHRC passed the order after considering a detailed petition filed by Supreme Court advocate and human rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy. 

The commission acknowledged that there was indeed a lack of proper healthcare facilities and infrastructure across various states.

Highlighting a case in Odisha, Tripathy said it was not only Tapu Misra, an actor of yesteryear, who faced lack of proper healthcare, but also many others who have to shift out of Odisha.

He said PHCs, CHCs, and DHHs in Odisha are facing many problems. “Patients are forced to lie on floors and at times naked. It is a sorry state of affairs in Odisha,” he claimed.

Tripathy said Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a priority commitment within the Agenda for 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and highlighted the sufferings of the common man due to the improper functioning of PHCs and CHCs across various states.

Tripathy cited many incidents of deaths of poor victims across various states, either due to lack of proper health, infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, or lack of adequate staff, including doctors and paramedics. 

He has sought the commission’s intervention to ensure basic human rights by providing proper healthcare, adequate infrastructure, and staff at all PHCs, CHCs, and DHHs. 

PHCs remain the cornerstone of a strong healthcare system worldwide, and rich countries have worked on improving it and are now reaping the benefits, he said. 

He added that an integrated pathway connecting PHCs, CHCs, district hospitals, and tertiary medical college hospitals needs to be created. 

Tripathy contended that spending on health as a percentage of GDP needs to be increased.

The NRHM and other national and state health policies and guidelines are being flouted.

The UN mandate for healthcare has also been blatantly violated as the blame game continues between the Centre and states as health is a state subject, Tripathy alleged. 

He requested the NHRC to ensure adequate infrastructure and staff at all the PHCs, CHCs, and district headquarters hospitals. 

The plea also draws the attention of the NHRC to ensure a transparent procurement policy, communication facilities, ambulances, OTs, safe buildings, waste management, and a hygienic atmosphere with required medicines, injections, etc. for all the PHCs and CHCs in India.

He said that 887 community health centers are required in Bihar, while only 150 are in place. 

In Himachal Pradesh, though there are hospitals in Kullu, Lahul, and Spiti, ICU beds are not available. 

Tripathy’s plea said the healthcare system in the entire state was discussed in Davinder Sharma and another vs State Of Himachal Pradesh on 26 September 2020 with High Court directives, but the state has not yet done what is necessary.

He said that in West Bengal, healthcare for the residents of Sunderbans, which is home to close to five million people, has been battered by four tropical cyclones.

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