The third day of Healthcare Sabha 2017 began with a key note address by Bejon Misra, Founder, PSM India in which he highlighted the role of most important stakeholder in public heath — patients. He began by talking about the expectations of patients when they seek healthcare services. He listed top 10 expectations of patients in India (standards, choice, information, accessibility, accountability, prompt redressal, safety, quality, non- discriminatory and privacy) and elaborated on the significance of them. Misra emphasised on the need for policy makers and public health workers to design their health programmes keeping in mind these expectations. He said that it is pivotal to empower the patients to create a sustainable and good public health system.
He further said that the healthcare sector is currently undergoing a huge churning. There are opportunities galore and patients are anxiously waiting for new products that will enhance their health and lifestyle. In his presentation, he also mentioned the areas where patients spend on healthcare (viz. hospitals, pharmacy products, medical equipment, health insurance and diagnostics).
The renowned patient activist was also emphatic on ensuring highest quality in medicines and healthcare services in his session. Subsequently, he cautioned that the patient is slowly loosing faith in the public health system.
He drew attention to the role of private sector in public health. He informed that the investment in healthcare over the years has increased by 8x, yet addressing the healthcare needs of patients in India is a huge challenge. He accentuated on the relevance of a comprehensive health financing system. He amplified on the draft National Health Assurance Mission and said that if implemented well, it can be a game changer for Indian healthcare.
Healthcare Sabha 2017 Agenda Day 3
- Keynote address Co-creating a manifesto for a healthy India: Role of an empowered patient
- Dr Bejon Misra, Founder PSM India Issues impacting healthcare industry in 2017
- Vivek Tiwari, Director and CEO, Boston Ivy Healthcare Solutions
- Role of health insurance in creating a sustainable health financing system
- KB Vijay Srinivas, GM, National Insurance Corporation
Journey to a healthy India - Bhudeb Chakravarti, Honorary President, Centre for Development of Excellence, Hyderabad
- Govt sponsored schemes: Meant for poor, but beyond their reach?
- Prof Dayashankar Maurya, Chairperson, Healthcare Management & International Relations, TA Pai Institute of Management
- Panel discussion Sustainable Health Financing Systems/ Health Economics
- Moderator: Prof Dayashankar Maurya, Chairperson, Healthcare Management & International Relations, TA Pai Institute of Management F Gajendra Kumar, Advisor, Ministry of Railways, Government of India; F Dr RK Srivastava, Sr Advisor, Public health and innovation, Wadhwani Initiative for Sustainable Healthcare (WISH) Foundation; F Dr Payal Laad, Assistant Professor of Community medicine, Public Health at Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Hospital
- Presentation Regulatory practices in Gujarat to protect public health
- Dr HG Koshia, Commissioner, Food & Drugs Control Administration, Govt. of Gujarat Ensuring access to quality health services and essential medicines F RP Khandelwal, Chairman, HLL Lifecare
- Panel discussion Good Governance in Public Health
- Moderator: Dr Pratheek Rathi, Special Executive Officer, ESI Scheme; FPanelists: Dr Atul Kharate, State TB Officer, Madhya Pradesh, GOI F Dr Suleman Merchant, Dean, Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Hospital; F Dr Deepak Agarwal, IT Head, AIIMS, Delhi
A brief glimpse into the future
- F Dr Suleman, Merchant, Dean, Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Hospital
- Panel discussion Access to quality services and medicines
- Moderator: Lokesh Sharma, Director, QuintilesIMS Institute India and Head of Government Solutions in India for QuintilesIMS Health F Panelists:, Bejon Misra, Founder, Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) India, Healthy You Foundation, Cell For Consumer Education and Advocacy Society F Dr M Prakasamma, Executive Director, ANSWERS (Academy for Nursing Studies and Women’s Empowerment Research Studies) F Dr RK Srivastava, Sr Advisor, Public health and innovation, WISH Foundation, Former Chairman, MCI and Former DGHS, Govt of India
- Express Public Health awards
Misra urged the audience to make a strong appeal to the government to increase its investment in health. He also urged the audience to relook and rationalise the pricing strategies of medicines and services in healthcare. “Quality healthcare is priceless, whereas absence of quality will cost life,” he avered.
Moreover, he critised the concept of price control saying that it kills creativity. “There needs to a be an environment of healthy competition,” he said. Referring to the telecom sector he said that earlier a cost of one mobile phone call used to cost him Rs 21 in the year 1995 in Delhi and he was charged even for incoming calls; however, due to the competitive nature of the sector, today a phone call cost him less than a rupee. Therefore he said that even in healthcare the government must encourage healthy competition.
Misra also engaged the audience in conversations on subjects related to quality of services and good governance. He urged the audience to be fearless and work with the right attitude.
Key recommendations
- Empower the patients to create a sustainable public health system
- Role of the private sector vital to public health
- Encourage healthy competition
- Government needs to increase its investment in health
- Be fearless and work with the right attitude