'Policies on health issue present, but implementation weak'

Kolkata, Feb 10: Implementation of several policies to address health issues in the country has been weak and the urban population was equally affected by it, a senior doctor said today.

"We have so many health issues and problems in the country and we've health policies and programmes for them. But we are very weak and poor in implementing these policies," national president of Indian Public Health Association Dr J Ravi Kumar told PTI here.

According to Dr Kumar, it's not only the rural population which was suffering because of poor implementation of the policies, but the urban people was equally affected.

"70 per cent of the Indians living in villages are having health problems because of poor implementation. In fact, the urban people are equally suffering now," he stressed. Citing insufficient funds as the primary hindrance affecting the implementation of policies, Dr Kumar said, "The economical factor is a major one. We cannot implement the programmes because of shortage of funds. Besides, lack of manpower, absence of trained hands are also responsible... And most of the doctors want to settle in the urban areas, they do not want to go to the rural areas."

Political will and involvement, he said were the most important requirements for implementation of the policies to address public health.

"It's definitely the responsibility of the government to implement them. Political commitment and involvement must be there. The IPHA has only the medical personnel, but the government must build the toilets," he stressed. We can educate people and provide awareness for the need to build toilets, to keep the environment clean and for proper use of water without wasting it, he added.

PTI