In this episode of The Editorial, Mr. Sujit Nair discusses Maharashtra’s healthcare sector, highlighting a report from Jan Arogya Abhiyan, a coalition of health professionals. The report flags significant shortcomings in the state’s healthcare system, giving Maharashtra a score of just 23/100. Mr. Nair criticizes both the MVA and Mahayuti alliances for focusing on offering public freebies to win votes, even as the state’s healthcare system appears to be in crisis.
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[00:00:00] Namaskar, Welcome to another episode of editorial. Now yesterday Mahavikaz Agaadi that is Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thakre released their manifesto and they said that they are going to pay 3000 rupees to all women, 3000 rupees to women in Maharashtra.
[00:00:24] Mahavikaz Agaadi was 3000 rupees Mahayuti that is the Bharatiya Chanata Party, Shiva Sena, Hikna Shinde and National Congress Party Ajit Pawar, they said that they are already paying 1500 rupees under the Maji Ladki behind Yojana, now they are claiming that they will pay 2100.
[00:00:46] So 2100 Yuti, 3000 Mahavikaz Agaadi.
[00:00:52] You know, finally who is going to lose? You are going to lose.
[00:00:56] And I am going to show you some data to prove why I say this.
[00:01:02] Let's get right into the show.
[00:01:03] You see, there is an NGO called the JAN AROGYA ABYAN. J-A-A. JAN AROGYA ABYAN.
[00:01:15] This particular NGO, they consist of health professionals and they have flagged Maharashtra as a state for its shortcoming in healthcare.
[00:01:28] You know, while we are giving 2100 rupees and 3000 rupees to women as freebies, just so that we get their votes, it's not for their well-being.
[00:01:40] And I will tell you why I say it is not for their well-being.
[00:01:44] Healthcare professionals are warning you that your state, state of Maharashtra is in trouble.
[00:01:51] Your healthcare system is in the dumps.
[00:01:56] I will try and tell you what they mentioned.
[00:01:59] They gave a report card.
[00:02:01] They gave a report card.
[00:02:02] It is very interesting.
[00:02:03] They gave a report card.
[00:02:04] The report card is in your screen.
[00:02:05] Wherein they say that ensuring increased and sufficient public health budget based on the state requirement, they gave us 3 out of 10 marks.
[00:02:14] 3 out of 10 marks.
[00:02:16] Appointment of adequate regular staff, they gave us 3.5 out of 10 marks.
[00:02:22] Improvement of medical college hospital, secondary hospital facilities following the Nandir incident, they gave us 3 out of 10 marks.
[00:02:30] Urban health services, they gave us 2.5 out of 10 marks.
[00:02:34] System to supply medicines, they gave us 2 out of 10 marks.
[00:02:39] Privatization of public health services, they gave us 0 out of 5.
[00:02:43] And health insurance scheme, they gave us 3 out of 5.
[00:02:45] There we are doing well.
[00:02:48] Regulation of private hospital, they gave us 1 out of 10 marks.
[00:02:51] Women's health, they gave us 1 out of 10 marks.
[00:02:54] These are the women that you are going to pay.
[00:02:56] 1500 rupees that you are paying now.
[00:02:59] 2100 rupees that you are promised that you will pay.
[00:03:02] And Maa Vikas Agadi coming and saying that no, no, we will give 3000 rupees.
[00:03:06] This is what the reality is.
[00:03:10] Improving child nutrition, 1 out of 10 marks.
[00:03:13] Promoting social accountability, participation, 3 out of 10 marks.
[00:03:17] And total comes to 23 out of 100 marks.
[00:03:22] 23 out of 100 marks.
[00:03:24] You know, normally when you have to pass, you require at least 35 out of 100 marks.
[00:03:29] 35% to pass normally.
[00:03:31] You have failed.
[00:03:32] Your report card fails you, which means you are not looking after the health of your state.
[00:03:40] You are busy giving freebies.
[00:03:43] Why I am saying this again and again is because this is going to cause a problem for the people of this state.
[00:03:50] Future may, it is going to cause a problem for the people of this country.
[00:03:55] Because this freebie culture is spreading.
[00:03:57] It's spreading like a wildfire.
[00:04:00] After yesterday's Mahavika Jagadi's manifesto, I am very sure this is spreading like a wildfire.
[00:04:07] 3000 rupees they are offering.
[00:04:09] Where are you going to get this money from?
[00:04:12] Cut from budgets, cut from health budget.
[00:04:14] I will tell you why I say this.
[00:04:17] You see, Maharashtra, 4.2% of total budget is spent on health.
[00:04:23] 4.2% of Maharashtra's total budget is spent on health, which is the second lowest in amongst all the other states.
[00:04:30] Second lowest in the country.
[00:04:32] We just spent 4.2% of our budget on health.
[00:04:37] Why?
[00:04:37] Because freebies are not given.
[00:04:39] Where are you going to get the money?
[00:04:41] So you have to pay freebies.
[00:04:43] Why?
[00:04:43] Because you have to win elections, no?
[00:04:45] So finally, they take money from you and they use it in such a way that it helps them to win elections.
[00:04:54] Are you getting the drift?
[00:04:55] Are you getting the point?
[00:04:57] I will give you some more details.
[00:04:58] 1,979 is the per capita public health spending.
[00:05:02] We are among the worst six states in the country.
[00:05:04] When I say we, I mean Maharashtra is among the worst six states in the country.
[00:05:08] 31,000 health workers in national health mission have been on contract for decades.
[00:05:15] You don't even have a health staff.
[00:05:19] They are on contract.
[00:05:21] So the fact is when you go to public health services, the reason why you are not treated properly, the reason why there is no infrastructure to treat a patient, the reason why we have all these sort of calamities is because our health workers are on contract.
[00:05:37] They don't know what kind of services are they going to give you.
[00:05:42] These are figures.
[00:05:43] Let me give you some more figures.
[00:05:45] 6% of the budget meant for supplies of medicines spent between April and October.
[00:05:50] Hear this out very clearly.
[00:05:52] Only 6% we have spent from April to October, April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
[00:05:59] 7 months, we've just spent 6%.
[00:06:01] Which means we have not utilized our budgets, which was supposed to be meant for medicines for the poor.
[00:06:09] Which means that possibly that budget is utilized somewhere else.
[00:06:14] Look at how dangerously we are living.
[00:06:17] I'll give you another figure.
[00:06:19] 2% of the budget marked for urban health wellness has been utilized between April and October.
[00:06:26] Urban health budget, only 2% has been utilized.
[00:06:31] 98% has not been utilized or whatever in a year.
[00:06:36] So, like again I told you, in 7 months, we've just utilized 2%.
[00:06:41] In 7 months, technically, you should have utilized more than 50%.
[00:06:46] You've utilized 2%.
[00:06:49] Why?
[00:06:49] Like I told you again, chances are, maybe that budget is used for some freebies.
[00:06:55] They have to give you freebies.
[00:06:56] No, they have to win elections.
[00:06:58] So, this is the point.
[00:07:00] 44.6% of children stunting in June.
[00:07:05] This is the health status.
[00:07:07] This is the reason why the report card is thus.
[00:07:10] This is why that Jan Arogya Abhyan says that you are getting 23 out of 100.
[00:07:17] This is the reason.
[00:07:18] Very clearly.
[00:07:19] Cause and effect.
[00:07:21] Very clearly.
[00:07:23] You know, I want to read some headlines for you.
[00:07:27] I want to read some headlines for you.
[00:07:29] August 15th, 2023.
[00:07:31] Government orders probe after 18 patients die in Thane Civic Run hospitals in 24 hours.
[00:07:39] 18 patients died in Thane Civic Hospital.
[00:07:41] This is the status of our public health facility.
[00:07:45] Three more patients die in Thane Civic Hospital and CM Shinde visits sanctioned 71 crores.
[00:07:52] This is 15th August 2023.
[00:07:56] Namdair Hospital, 108 dead in 8 days.
[00:08:00] 108 dead in 8 days.
[00:08:04] Dean denies that there has been medical shortage.
[00:08:07] The Dean denies because if he doesn't deny, he may lose his job.
[00:08:10] It could possibly be the reason he denied that.
[00:08:14] But 108 people died in 8 days.
[00:08:17] Okay, when was this?
[00:08:18] October 11, 2023.
[00:08:19] Okay, 18 deaths in 24 hours at government hospital in Maharashtra's Chattrapati, Shambhaji Nagar.
[00:08:26] This is 3rd October 2023.
[00:08:29] All these are recent news, 2023 news that I'm reading for you.
[00:08:35] You know, the Bombay High Court calls hospital condition in Maharashtra unacceptable.
[00:08:40] You know, based on the Nandair and the Shambhaji Nagar numbers, the Bombay High Court observed that the shocking condition of Dr. Shankar Rao Chawan government medical college and hospital in Nandair revealed that pigs roam freely in the premises.
[00:08:58] Pigs roam freely in the premises raising concern about hygiene and cleanliness.
[00:09:04] Patients' relatives were observed performing chores amidst unsanitary conditions and there were visible signs of neglect, including clogging brains and litter strewn around.
[00:09:17] This is what the Bombay High Court observed.
[00:09:21] The point that I'm trying to make is look at the priorities our governments are setting.
[00:09:26] And the priorities are going all haywire to lure you, you the voters.
[00:09:34] Ask your representative when he comes and talks to you about Mahji Ladki Bahin or the MVA candidate now saying that we are going to pay you 3000 rupees.
[00:09:43] Ask that representative.
[00:09:45] What about my healthcare?
[00:09:46] Why are so many people dying?
[00:09:49] Because that's more important than anything else.
[00:09:52] That's the future of this country.
[00:09:53] That's the future of this state.
[00:09:55] If your healthcare is not correct, if your education is not correct, there is nothing else that can be corrected.
[00:10:04] The state cannot be corrected.
[00:10:06] Your administration will go kaput.
[00:10:08] Your future is bleak.
[00:10:11] This is something that we should remember.
[00:10:13] And that's why this editorial, till I see you next time, that's tomorrow at 10.
[00:10:18] Namaskar.