Arogya Sena designs health manifesto for LS aspirants

PUNE: To bring health issues into prominence this election, city-based Arogya Sena has come up with a comprehensive and unique health manifesto’ featuring ways to consolidate public health care system in the country. The Sena will pursue all major political parties to include it in their agenda.

“From increasing budgetary allocations for public health to strengthening public health care system, the health manifesto features 25 prime areas that need special thrust. We will send it to all major political parties and ask them to include it in their respective public manifestos,” said cardiologist Abhijit Vaidya, national chief of Arogya Sena, a social organisation that fights for the health rights of common man.

Elaborating on the features of the health manifesto, Vaidya said, “In order to boost rural health care system, we have suggested setting up of Rural Medical Referral Centres (RMRC). The centre will bring consultation of specialist medical professionals within the reach of villagers by visiting specialists once a week.” This initiative will change the face of rural health system and make it accessible and affordable, said Vaidya, who had initiated such a move with the members of Arogya Sena around eight years back in Maval, which has helped more than 250 villages.

Similarly, the manifesto also stresses on initiating affordable diagnostic centres in cities as well as villages for cheaper treatment and emphasises on nurturing effective and efficient ambulance system, said Vaidya.

Besides suggesting ways of controlling prices of medicines, promoting clinical research, special scheme for children health etc, the health manifesto of Arogya Sena also emphasises on issues of sanitation and disposal of garbage in a scientific manner.

“We want humane, efficient, corruptionless, accessible and affordable public health care system for common man which will give round-the-clock medical service,” said Vaidya. We will reach out to all political parties with our manifesto either on mail and personally wherever possible, added Vaidya.

Source – Times Of India