Health is a primary need of every human being. Financial condition of all the working people of our country is getting adversely impacted due to steep increase in cost of health services and medicines. Deliberate crippling of public health system over last more than three decades, by government after government, has helped private sector to flourish. Today Health sector is a highly profitable sector and hence many Indian and foreign capitalist groups are heavily investing. Hence it is very necessary for all the working people to demand immediate stoppage of privatization of public health services and demand that public health services be provided by every government at every level at affordable price to all the people.
Various public health activists of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, health workers unions and Aspataal Bachao Nijikaran Hatao Kruti Samiti, have declared Mumbai People’s Health Manifesto using the occasion of Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections. The manifesto declares that
“Health is our right!
Healthcare for people not for profit!”
The 10 point manifesto calls for urgent measures to dramatically improve public health service provided to people.
The Mumbai People’s Health Manifesto declares total opposition to privatization of health care under any disguise like Public Private Partnership or any other.
The other urgent measures include
- Immediate increase in budgetary allocation and spending to the extent of 15% of total Mumbai Municipal Corporation budget
- Immediate filling up of all vacancies of health workers in all government health services by employing qualified people on permanent basis
- An immediate end to contractual employment in health services
- Opening up Primary Health Centres (PHC) to ensure one PHC for every 20 thousand population
- Free and timely medicines and medical tests
