Need for equity in healthcare: Expert
The international forum of partners of Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) ended here on Sunday with an 11-point declaration seeking to take forward the concepts that have been developed in the five years of its existence dealing with integration of maternal, newborn and child health.
The focus of the declaration was on action, accountability and equity in all the interventions being sought to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
Co-chair of PMNCH and chair of the department of paediatrics, AIIMS, Prof. Vinod Paul, said that whatever resources are moved towards improvement of health of the women, the newborn and the children, it will have to be done keeping equity in mind.
“We will have to think about the poorest whenever we plan to do anything,” said Prof. Paul.
Prof. Paul added that whenever money flow increases in any country, the rich tend to benefit more, while the poor get left out. This is something that has to be kept in mind always, he said, citing contrasting examples of Brazil and China.
In the latter’s case, the inequities have increased, while Brazil has been able to bring it down due to its policy of inclusivity, he added.
It was also agreed that there should be more emphasis on developing knowledge regarding healthcare, which would mean strengthening the institutions of research.
The PMNCH came in existence in 2005 when it was felt the health of mother, new born and the child were not isolated issues but something that needed to be tackled in an integrated manner.
“Now, we are saying that the health itself is not only about health sector. It is about education, women empowerment, human rights, equality and water and sanitation. It has to be taken forward in that manner,” said Prof. Paul.
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