Growth in Indian health sector has stagnated: Valiathan

Kochi, May 22: Calling for higher quality standards to match up with the developed nations, eminent cardiac surgeon Dr M S Valiathan decried that the growth in Indian health sector has stagnated after 1990s.

Delivering the Dr P A Verghese Memorial Oration 2006' on healthcare in transition' here last night, the leading surgeon called for accreditation of medical laboratories and hospitals to ensure quality.

In 2003, America won 5000 patents and Japan 9000 while India could manage just three. The country still depended on import for medical equipment as the growth in the health sector remained stagnant after 1990s, he said.

Lack of serious attempts by the hospitals and laboratories to develop and enforce standards on a voluntary basis was one of the reasons why the public in India is rapidly losing confidence in hospitals,'' he said.

Stressing the need for investment in knowledge and innovation, he observed that the information technology applications, biotechnology and nanotechnology would completely change the way of disease being treated in future.

Quoting from the World Health Organisation report, he said the country had 16.5 per cent of world population and 20 per cent of total diseases in the globe.

Asking the professional bodies to take initiative to set standards, he deplored the lack of awareness about accreditation even among the professionals.

Access, quality and innovation are the three improtant parametres of health care system,' Dr Valiathan said, while stressing on quality care at all levels from primary hospitals.

The lecture was held in memory of Dr Varghese, the founder of leading hospital - Medical Trust- in the City. Kerala High Court judge Justice M Ramachandran inaugurated the programme.

UNI