Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

In News:Gap between allocations for health, outcomes in States

Expanding medical colleges and healthcare facilities is crucial for improving social development and public health. 

Factors hampering expansion of medical colleges and healthcare facilities:

  1. Low budgetary allocation:According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), public health spending for FY 2024 stands at approximately 2.1-2.2% of GDP, below the global average. 
  2. Low utilisation of funds:A recent study by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy indicates that only around 45% of the 15th Finance Commission health grants were utilised in the period 2021-22 to 2023-24.
  3. Bureaucratic hurdles: Overlapping funding sources, complex execution structure of the grants has posed hurdles in its utilisation. 
  4. Shortage of specialists could affect the task of setting up medical colleges or upgrading district hospitals to medical colleges
  5. Inadequate state fiscal capabilities to meet additional recurring expenditures in maintaining the physical infrastructure built under the  Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), and Human Resources for Health and Medical Education (HRHME). 

Addressing underlying structural causes of human resource shortages, and improving public financial management processes for executing schemes and grants. These elements will be crucial in ensuring that the budgetary allocations for capital expenditures are productive.

PYQ :Besides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.” Analyse. 2021In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss 2020Appropriate local community-level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All ‘ in India. Explain. 2018

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/gap-between-allocations-for-health-outcomes-in-states/article68606390.ece

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