1. HEALING TOUCH
UNIVERSALISING ACCESS TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
IN INDIA
DIT UNIVERSITY
BY-
AKHIL BANSAL, ANINDO CHATTERJEE, GURTEJ SINGH, PAWAN KUMAR, ROHAN BHOWMICK

2. WHY THIS TOPIC?
 At the turn of this century, health outcomes in
India and the quality of the underlying health
system significantly lagged those of peer
nations. The situation is further complicated
by inequity in healthcare access across states.
Infrastructure gaps will need to be closed.
 We begin with an assessment of the progress
made in the last decade and the learning for
the path ahead.

3. At the turn of the entury, India’s Infant
Mortality Rate(IMR),Material Mortality
Ratio(MMR) lagged behind the average
for the low and middle income
countries(LMIC),as did its life
expectancy. Moreover, health outcomes
varied dramatically across states.
Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates in
India's poorest districts are worse than
the sub-Saharan Africa.
India represents 21% of the global
diseases burden with the largest burden
of communicable diseases in the world.

4. According to the approach paper for
the 12th five year plan, in 2010, 10% of
posts of doctors at the primary health
centres, 63% of the specialist posts at
the community health centres, 25% of
the nursing posts at PHCs and CHCs
combined, 27% posts of pharmacist,
and 50% of laboratory technician
posts are vacant.
India has a very low hospital bed
density of 0.9 per thousand people,
which is less than one-third the WHO
norms of three beds per thousand
people.

5. THE SOLUTION
 It is difficult for the government alone to combat
the problems on Primary Healthcare, so the
government requires input and co-operation from
the common man.
 With a little out-of-the-box thinking, the govt and
common man can join hands and form an
organisation which will help in the betterment of
primary healthcare in India.

6. THE ORGANIZATION
LOCALDISTRICTSTATE
GOVT. HEALTH
MINISTRY DEPT.
TEAM OF REPUTED
DOCTORS
COLLEGE VOLUNTEERS
PROFESSIONAL
VOLUNTEERS
LOCALITES WITH A
PREFERABLE
BACKGROUND IN
MEDICINE

7. FUNDING THE ORGANIZATION
FUNDS
Voluntary funding by the local people
whi h will e olle ted y the lo ality’s
Resident Welfare Association and
deposited to the district level officials.
To encourage such
charitable funds,
some national
appreciation for the
same shall increase
the popularity of the
movement.
The Health Ministry can help THE
ORGANIZATION by organizing seminars,
check-up camps and bear its expenses.
Formation of clubs
and groups in
colleges/schools with
the prime objective
of spreading
awareness about THE
ORGANIZATION and
its motive. This club
will play a further
role in collection of
funds in cash and
kind from fellow
college/school peers.

8. WORKING OF THE ORGANIZATION
 Increasing availability of Generic Medicines, which will increase the affordability, especially
for people below the poverty line.
 THE ORGANIZATION will conduct a survey (on the basis of geographical and climatic factors)
and based on the report of the survey, medicine density will be increased to specific regions.
 THE ORGANIZATION will issue a medical card which will entitle people to take free bus
services when in need which will transport them to the nearest PHC. THE ORGANIZATION
will also look towards the establishing of special routes and lanes which will act as a
shortcuts to transport patients swiftly and obstruction-free.
 THE ORGANIZATION will help in women empowerment by appointing women medical
practitioners who can help women patients with their health problems which will in turn
help women patients to discuss their problems freely and comfortably.
 Seminars and Camps will be organized by THE ORGANIZATION to eradicate superstitions,
medieval beliefs and bring about awareness of modern medical facilities among the illiterate
mass.
 THE ORGANIZATION will create a nationwide online database which will allow the people to
access their transaction information and it will have real time updates to enable
transparency.

9. SUSTAINABILITY
If this organization will work for the betterment of
health care, it will become a part and parcel of
daily life and the common man, especially the
youth would promote this organization and fuel it
with determination and dedication.

10. REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
 India Healthcare: Inspiring possibilities, challenging
journeys.-McKinsey & Company
 http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-
economy/india-spends-least-on-healthcare-among-
brics-nations/article3317902.ece
 http://www.ijph.in/article.asp?issn=0019-
557X;year=2013;volume=57;issue=2;spage=59;ep
age=64;aulast=Yeravdekar