Currently, only 4.5% of India's GDP is spent on health ; public sector health expenditures are 0.9% of GDP (only 3.9% of total government spending-equivalent to the bottom 10% of countries worldwide). Salaries consume a large percentage of public sector recurrent costs, even though severe staff [in terms of qualified] shortages exist at the national and state levels. The number of basic service providers has not kept pace with population growth, yielding a 30-50% shortage in coverage, mostly for rural populations. Hospitals receive over half of public sector resources. However, the distribution systems for equipments and drugs are poor, and stockouts of basic medicines and supplies occur frequently. The demand for resources by other sectors, notably for subsidies in the power sector, limits opportunities for improved health care financing.
Stagnant, inefficient public sector spending impedes services and results in huge out-of-pocket spending for private sector health care. The public sector health system is "pro-rich" in that the richest 20% of the population benefits from over 33% of the public sector funding for curative services. For Indians below the poverty line, public sector remains a critical source for preventive and basic health services, even though services are generally poor and accessibility is limited (i.e., the public sector provides 93% of immunizations, 74% of antenatal care, and 69% of institutional deliveries). However, about 80% of outpatient care is provided by the private sector. As in most developing countries, richer households purchase more curative care from the private sector than do poorer households.
Poor management of public health services at all levels is reflected in a range of its deficiencies. Outreach to the most vulnerable section of the population is very limited, and the quality of services, in general, is poor. Lack of proper civic amenities and unhygienic practices among the poor and illiterate are causing reoccurrence of preventable diseases. Health information for providers needs to be updated and more broadly disseminated.
DJJS recognizes the exis
tence of these problems in India, both in the developing urban regions as well as the under-developed rural sectors. The organization has taken initiative to work along the following dimensions:Providing affordable and continued medical services by make-shift arrangements such as medical camps in difficult areas. These are provided for a fixed period of time, where doctors and medical services are made available to people, such camps are organized repeatedly in the targeted areas
Providing regular services of eye care & checkups, prescription, supply of glasses, and referrals to specialty hospitals for surgeries
Advocating healthy practices of maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation and helping build awareness among people for a better civic life. The organization does this through regular contact programs, one-on-one interaction, structured counseling sessions and lecture programs
Serving people who are in need of medical aid in disaster struck areas of natural and man-made calamities. The organization in the recent past has notably provided free emergency medical services in flood affected areas of Bihar and to the victims of Delhi's serial bomb-blasts
Moreover the DJJS recognizes situations of households where the basics of health and hygiene are often neglected. Through our weekly contact programs and spiritual sessions, awareness is created regarding environmental, household and personal hygiene. These initiatives help in raising awareness on health and sanitation.
DJJS is working towards increasing the outreach of its programs for the benefit of masses and
help improve standards of health and hygiene across India through:Spreading awareness on both communicable and non-communicable preventable diseases
Conducting Train the Trainer (TTT) programs for staff and volunteers across India on various pro health practices such as hand washing, safe drinking water, better and low cost sanitation methods
Undertaking various health projects and campaigns through its dedicated and vast network of branches in India
Road Ahead
DJJS shall be working on improving the rural sanitation, providing low cost solutions in collaboration with other specialist organisations; to introduce the best practices in hygiene, sanitation and safe drinking water to the poor of rural and urban areas.