New Act for Public Health Crisis

Syllabus :GS 2/Health 

In Context

• An expert group constituted by NITI Aayog  has proposed a new Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA).

About Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA)

• It will address a range of public health issues, including epidemics, non-communicable diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism, through a holistic approach covering prevention, control, and disaster response.
• The Act would also provide for the creation of skilled public health cadres at national and state levels.
• Priority Targets:  Developing human resources and infrastructure.
  • Creating innovative countermeasures and appropriate high-risk financing.
  • Strengthening regulatory frameworks and surveillance networks.
  • Connecting epidemiological, genomic, laboratory, and clinical data.

About Public Health Crisis : Challenges and Concern 

• India, with its vast population and diverse healthcare landscape, faces several public health challenges. 
• Infectious diseases : India grapples with infectious diseases that pose significant threats to public health. For example
  •  The COVID-19 pandemic has strained healthcare systems, leading to overwhelmed hospitals, shortages of medical supplies, and loss of lives. 
  • Vector-Borne Diseases: Diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya continue to affect large sections of the population. 
• Infrastructure : India’s healthcare infrastructure faces challenges related to funding, infrastructure gaps, and inadequate staffing.
  • Rural areas often lack proper medical facilities, leading to disparities in healthcare access.
• Shortage of Healthcare Workers: The shortage of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals exacerbates the crisis. 
• Malnutrition and Maternal Health: Despite progress, malnutrition remains a significant concern.
  • India still grapples with high maternal mortality rates.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) : Diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions are on the rise
• Environmental Health: India faces severe air pollution, especially in urban centers.
  • This contributes to respiratory diseases and other health issues. 
• India’s public health spending : It  has been meager, hovering around 1% of GDP.
  • Despite recent increases bringing this closer to 2%, it remains inadequate when compared to global standards. 

Initiatives 

• National Rural Health Mission (2005) and National Health Mission (2013) focused on strengthening public sector health care.
• Recent policies emphasize publicly funded health insurance (PFHI) schemes like PMJAY
• Economic survey data  :  As a percent of GDP, expenditure on social services has increased from 6.7% in 2017-18 to 7.8% in 2023-24.
  • Correspondingly, health expenditure has increased from 1.4% to 1.9% in the same period.
•  Budget Allocation: 

Suggestions and Way Forward 

• India’s public health crisis demands a multi-pronged approach involving government policies, community participation, and international collaboration.
• Lessons  need to be learnt from national and global experiences with COVID-19 to inform future preparedness and response strategies.
• To address the gaps exposed by the pandemic, there must be an increase in public health funding, focusing on both infrastructure and human resources.
  • Strengthening the financial support to states is crucial. 

• Establishing a strong surveillance network and improving data management will be essential for effective public health responses.
• Investing in the training and development of healthcare professionals is vital. 
•  Establish health cadres at both national and state levels to improve emergency management.
• Create an Empowered Group of Secretaries on Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response (PPER), chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, to coordinate responses.
• Build and maintain a trained workforce ready for rapid response during emergencies and ensure preparedness during peacetime.
• There is a  need for establishment of a Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response Fund for effective and timely action.

Source: IE