THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The draft outlines of the Approach Paper to the Twelfth Five -Year Plan (2012-2017) has given a solid emphasis on improving public health scenario in the state.The draft approach paper has been uploaded on the website of the Planning Board for discussions and to elicit views and opinions from the people of the state who are interested in the development process.The draft approach paper has stated that the coverage of public health institutions will be improved to reach uncovered regions and segments of the population. One hospital each in a block panchayat area will be provided with major specialties. Through convergence of resources, overall infrastructure of grassroot-level health services is set to be upgraded so as to bring back the confidence of the people in the public health system.With the health status of a population linked with a lot of other factors such as hygiene, waste management and supply of safe drinking water, the 12th Plan intends to address such issues as well, with comprehensive health plans.An effort will be made to identify vulnerable sections and problem areas in the state such as coastal areas and Kuttanad, where health issues are closely interlinked with sanitation issues as well as availability of drinking water.As per the draft approach paper, the state would also launch a project for retail sale of generic medicines, which are much cheaper than their branded counterparts without compromising quality. The medical personnel working in the area will also be educated and trained in this regard.In order to improve transparency and quality, the generic medical prescriptions will be made mandatory in government-run institutions.While acknowledging that the health sector is badly affected for want of a well-designed regulatory mechanism, be it in the area of clinical services, laboratory and testing facilities or drugs, the draft approach paper says that the Twelfth Plan will put in place a comprehensive regulatory and governance mechanism to ensure quality standards.The Health University and other related institutions are expected to generate more technology as well as knowledge to the state’s health sector, which is now poorly supported by research. There is a lacunae on research and development efforts focused on state-specific health needs, said the draft paper.As modernisation of the health sector will be a priority area, the Health Insurance Programme will be universalised and strengthened by enhancing insurance protection and coverage on the basis of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. In the interests of modernisation and reach, telemedicine and other innovative practices will be encouraged.The Departments in the Health sector will introduce comprehensive new programmes, by way of overhauling and integration of existing schemes, to improve quality of services with properly defined components for development of infrastructure, manpower and other aspects.The draft approach paper has said that special emphasis will be given to address increased incidence of mental illnessand depression and related ailments and that autonomy will be introduced in selected hospitals.The final text of the Approach to the 12th Plan will be evolved after receiving more inputs in writing as well as through discussions proposed to be held in late October and early November, 2011.
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