The document discusses India's public and private healthcare systems. It notes that India has many doctors and hospitals but cannot make healthcare available to all. The public healthcare system, run by the government, aims to provide affordable care through a network of hospitals and health centers across villages. However, a case study describes one man's difficulty accessing emergency care, with various hospitals refusing him treatment. The court ruled the government has a duty to provide necessary health services and treatment in emergencies.

1. T H E 2
C H A P T E R S
ROLE OF THE
GOVERNMENT IN
HEALTH
HOW THE STATE
GOVERNMENT
WORKS

2. R O L E O F T H E
G O V E R N M E N T I N H E A LT H

3. TA B L E O F
C O N T E N T S
WHAT IS HEALTH?
HEALTHCARE IN INDIA
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SERVICE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
PRIVATE HEALTH SERVICE
HEALTHCARE AND EQUALITY
THE KERELA EXPERIENCE
THE COSTAN RICCA APPROACH

4. W H AT I S H E A LT H ?
In a democracy people expect the government to work for
their welfare.
This could be through the provision of education, health,
employment, housing or the development of roads, electricity etc.
Health means our ability to remain free of illness and injuries. But
health isn’t only about disease.

5. W H AT I S
H E A LT H
FREE FROM ILLNESS AND
INJURIES
1
PHYSICALLY FIT
2
MENTALLY FIT
3
SOCIALLY FIT
4

6. W H A T I S
H E A L T H
A P A R T
F R O M
I N J U R I E S
A N D
I L L N E S S ? ?
• A p a r t f r o m d i s e a s e t h e r e a r e o t h e r f a c t o r s
t o o t h a t c a n a f f e c t o u r h e a l t h .
For example , if we drink
clean water , or we live
in a pollution free
environment then we are
not prone to illness
If we don’t get sufficient
food , we will be more
prone to sickness

7. H E A LT H C A R E I N I N D I A
• COMPARE AND CONTRAST

8. In order to prevent and treat illnesses we need appropriate healthcare
facilities such as health centres, hospitals, laboratories for testing,
ambulance services, blood banks, etc., that can provide the required
care and services that patients need.
In order to run such facilities we need health workers, nurses, qualified
doctors and other health professionals who can advice, diagnose and
treat illnesses.
We also need the medicines and equipment that are necessary for
treating patients. These facilities are required to take care of us.

9. H E A LT H C A R E I N I N D I A
India has a large number of
doctors, clinics and
hospitals.
The country also has
considerable experience
and knowledge in running a
public healthcare system.
This is a system of hospitals
and health centres run by
the government.
It has the ability to look after
the health of a large section
of its population scattered
over hundreds of thousands
of villages.
Moreover, there has been a
phenomenal advancement
in medical sciences whereby
many new technologies and
treatment procedures are
available in the country.

10. O U R C O U N T R Y H A S T H E
M O N E Y , K N O W L E D G E A N D
P E O P L E W I T H
E X P E R I E N C E B U T
C A N N O T M A K E T H E
N E C E S S A R Y H E A L T H C A R E
A V A I L A B L E T O A L L .

11. T H E S T O R Y O F H A K I M S E I K H
Hakim Seikh was a member of the Paschim Banga Khet
Mazdoor Samity (PBKMS), an organisation of agricultural
labourers in West Bengal who accidentally fell off a running train
and suffered head injuries and needed immediate treatment
He spent 14 hours in a critical state while moving from hospital
to hospital in search of treatment
He was admitted in a private hospital where he had to spend a lot
of money.
Angry and upset over the indifferent attitude of all the hospitals
that refused to admit him, Hakim Seikh and PBKMS filed a case
in the court.

12. • We also need the medicines
and equipment that are
necessary for treating
patients.
• These facilities are required
to take care of us.
• India has a large number of
doctors, clinics and hospitals.
• The country also has considerable
experience and knowledge in
running a public healthcare
system.

13. T Y P E S O F
H E A LT H
C A R E
S E R V I C E S
HEATH CARE
SERVICES
PUBLIC PRIVATE

14. P U B L I C
It has the ability to look after the health of a large
section of its population scattered over hundreds of
thousands of villages.
Moreover, there has been a phenomenal advancement
in medical sciences whereby many new technologies
and treatment procedures are available in the country.

15. P R I VAT E
RMPs-
Registered
medical
practitioners

17. The resources needed to run these services are obtained from the money that we, the public, pay to
the government as taxes.
Hence, such facilities are meant for everyone.
One of the most important aspects of the public health system is that it is meant to provide quality
health care services either free or at a low cost, so that even the poor can seek treatment.
Another important function of public health is to take action to prevent the spread of diseases such as
TB, malaria, jaundice, cholera, diarrhoea, chikungunya, etc.
This has to be organised by the government with the participation of people otherwise it is not
effective.
For example, when taking up a campaign to see that mosquitoes do not breed in water coolers,
rooftops, etc., this has to be done for all houses in the area.

18. Recall the case of Hakim Seikh.
The Court said that the difficulty that Hakim Seikh had to face could have cost him his
life. If a hospital cannot provide timely medical treatment to a person, it means that
this protection of life is not being given.
The Court also said that it was the duty of the government to provide the necessary
health services, including treatment in emergency situations.
Hospitals and medical staff must fulfil their duty of providing the necessary treatment.
Hakim Seikh was denied treatment at various government hospitals. Therefore, the
Court asked the State Government to give him the money that he had spent on his
treatment.