Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

For better health care

The article, "The health of nations: seeking a way forward" (Jan. 4), rightly portrays the country's health scenario vis-à-vis the world. As the author points out, "there is very little that is public left in the sphere of health care." Globalisation has opened the floodgates to unethical profiteering in the health sector.

Devadas K. Nair,
Aluva, Kerala

The article shows how private health clinics are playing with the health of the people, particularly the poor. The public health sector too is not doing its job either.

Bhupendra Singh,
New Delhi

The need is to ensure the people's right to proper health care but the Government is doing exactly the opposite by encouraging privatisation of this vital sector. This policy is sure to complicate things.

Ravinder Sharma,
Suratgarh, Rajasthan

Does anyone care for the poor debt-stricken farmer, the blue collared factory worker, the aged construction worker? They and their families hang around in the dirty corridors of government hospitals waiting for medical attention. More often than not, they die before they get attention. Who cares? They are just data for statisticians. We need to think deep. Why not a cooperative healthcare on the lines of cooperative farming and cooperative banking?

Shabu Kolethe George,
Punalur, Kerala

A lot of hype about "health tourism" has been created by the corporates and the government seems to believe it is the need of the hour. Can we afford to invite medical tourists, when we cannot ensure safe motherhood to our women or prevent our children from dying of easily curable illnesses?

Dr. Oommen John,
New Delhi

With Public Health Centres becoming more and more invisible in the rural areas, people are flocking to quacks and magicians who provide dubious treatment. The health sector should be brought completely under the control of the Government.

G. Swaminathan,
Coimbatore

I hope the article opens the eyes of our media as well. Too much focus on the health of celebrities will definitely bring down the reputation of journalists. Let us have a healthy nation and a responsible media.

Singanallur Kalyanasundaram,
Coimbatore

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