INVITATION TO 7TH APRIL, 2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
In 1978, in its Alma Ata declaration the World Health Organization called for "Health for All by 2000 AD". INDIA was a signatory to that declaration.
But from early the 1990s the Indian government started to drift away from its responsibilities to the service sectors, following the diktats of IMF-World Bank combined.
In 2010 the Planning Commission constituted a High Level Expert Group (HLEG) on Universal Health Coverage. The group, headed by Dr. K Shrinath Reddy, recommended an increase in government spending on health care from 1.4% of GDP in 2010 to 2.5% by 2017 and to 3% by 2022, so that the government can meet the primary, secondary, and tertiary health care needs of all the citizens. The group envisaged government as the main provider of health care. It called for a Health Entitlement Card for every citizen.
But the Planning Commission in its plan document of 2012 ignored HLEG's recommendations and from 2014 the MODI government has cut the Government health care spending by 20%. Now Government spends less than 1% of GDP in health care.
From 2013, Shramajibi Swasthya Udyog, an organization of doctors and health workers committed to Universal Health Care, along with several other organizations, is taking the recommendations of HLEG on UHC to the people of West Bengal. In August 2015, 33 organizations formed the All Bengal Health for All Campaign Committee. Dr. K. Shrinath Reddy, Dr. Binayak Sen and several other health activists spoke for "Health for All" in a public convention in Kolkata on 24th January, 2016.
The campaign in west Bengal is going on. Time has come to take this campaign to other states, so that people all over India move for Universal Health Care.
This year on 7th April, Shramajibi Swasthyo Udyog will host a National Conference of delegates from different states to discuss and decide on the National Campaign.
Venue: West Bengal Voluntary Health Association Tower, 1st floor. Near Manovikash Kendra/ Ruby Hospital/ Desun Hospital.
Time: 12 Noon to 6 pm
We request you/your organization to take part in the conference.
The expenses for food and lodging will be taken care of by the organizers.
Please confirm your participation to shramajibiswasthya@gmail.com 15th of March, 2017. You may ring any one of the signatories for any query.
Regards
Yours Truly,
Dr. Punyabrata Gun, Adviser, Shramajibi Swasthya Udyog,
Mob: 9830922194
Dr. Sujoy Kumar Bala, President, Shramajibi Swasthya Udyog
Mob: 9836475632
Dr. Mrinmoy Bera, Secretary, Shramajibi Swasthya Udyog