“India is one of the fast growing economies, yet health is not part of the development story. In fact, India’s disproportionately stingy healthcare budget makes some of the poorer nations look better in comparison. Statistics, however, speaker louder than critics: we have one of the highest numbers of women dying in childbirth and under-five mortality rates. Every year nearly 60 million people get pushed below the poverty line due to the health expenditures that they incur. But there are a few bright spots too. India has eradicated polio and reversed the incidence of HIV/AIDS by an impressive margin”, writes K Sujatha Rao the her book, Do we care?
The book describes India’s health system on the bases of its challenges, constraints, policy implementations, governance and the way forward. The author who is an ex-official from the health and family ministry draws inferences from her experiences as a health secretary. In the book Rao gives us an insider’s view into the system. The book is quiet elaborate in its explainations and case studies. It speaks about the need for an increased health budget, greater use of technology, need for leadership and good governance. The author also argues that unless good health is prioritised as a national goal, India’s growth story will remain largely self-congratulatory.
Book: Do we Care?
Author: K Sujatha Rao
Subject: India’s Health System
Publisher: Oxford University press
Pages: 479
Price: Rs. 850
The book is a must read for all those who seek to understand the factors that influence public health achievements and failures. It also provides the ground realities of various exsisting health programmes. Finally, the book also contains solutions that can be implemented to strengthen our health system.
About the author:
K Sujatha Rao is a former Union Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Of her 36 year experience as a civil servant, she spent close to 20 years in the health sector in different capacities at both state and federal levels.
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