World Health Day

• 07 Apr 2022

For Prelims: World Health Day, National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana, India’s Health Index, SAMRIDH Initiative

For Mains: World Mental Health Day and its importance, Current Healthcare Landscape in India

Why in News?

Every year 7^th April marks the celebration of World Health Day.

• World Mental Health Day is observed on 10^th October every year.

What are the Key Highlights about World Health Day?

• About:
  • Its idea was conceived at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and it came into effect in 1950.
  • It is being celebrated today to mark the foundation of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 7^th April 1948.
  • Over the years, it has brought to light important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care and climate change.
• Aim:
  • To create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the WHO.
• Theme for 2022:
  • Our Planet, Our Health

What is the Need to Recognise the Day?

• Rising Deaths due Environmental Causes:
  • Around the world, 13 million deaths are caused due to avoidable environmental causes.
    • This includes the climate crisis which is the single biggest health threat facing humanity.
• Rising Air Pollution:
  • Over 90% of people breathe unhealthy air resulting from burning of fossil fuels.
• Impact of Pandemic:
  • The pandemic has revealed weaknesses in all areas of society and underlined the urgency of creating sustainable well-being societies committed to achieving equitable health now and for future generations without breaching ecological limits.
• Rising Extreme Weather Events:
  • Extreme weather events, land degradation and water scarcity are displacing people and affecting their health.
• Rising Pollution and Plastics:
  • Pollution and plastics are also affecting people's lives and have made their way into our food chain.
• Inequitable Distribution of Income:
  • The present design of the economy leads to inequitable distribution of income, wealth and power, with too many people still living in poverty and instability.

What is the Current Healthcare Landscape in India?

• Although India’s healthcare sector has grown rapidly over the last five years (Compound Annual Growth Rate of 22%), Covid-19 has brought to the forefront persistent challenges such as a weak health system, lack of quality infrastructure, and lack of quality service delivery to vulnerable populations.
• India's healthcare spending is 3.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), including out-of-pocket and public expenditure.
  • The combined total government expenditure of both central and state is 1.29% of GDP.
  • India spends the least among BRICS countries: Brazil spends the most (9.2%), followed by South Africa (8.1%), Russia (5.3%), China (5%).
• The Government of India has launched the flagship initiative Ayushman Bharat (AB) Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) the world's largest non-contributory Government-sponsored health insurance scheme that enables increased access to in-patient healthcare for poor and vulnerable families in secondary and tertiary facilities.

What are Related Initiatives for the Health Sector?

• National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019
• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
• Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana.
• India’s Health Index
• SAMRIDH Initiative

Source: DTE