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Healthcare in Goa Cannot be Compared with Rest of Nation: Ajit Parulekar
The healthcare scenario in Goa cannot be compared with that of the rest of the country, said Goa Institute of Management (GIM) director Ajit Parulekar. “If you look at health outcomes — infant mortality rates, maternal mortality rates, and the percentage of deliveries that takes place in institutions — a better comparison could be with east European countries,” he said, adding that primary health centers, especially the ones in Sakhali, Valpoi and Bicholim are atypical and not structured the same way as those in other parts of the country. He was addressing participants during the inaugural of the GIM-organized national conference on Ayushman Bharat and its implications for universal health coverage in India. Ayushman Bharat CEO Indu Bhushan, is his keynote address, said India is battling triple the burden of diseases. Despite diseases like diabetes and obesity becoming more prominent over the past two-and-a-half decades, communicable diseases are still widespread though on a decline.
The country is also battling the issue of injuries and trauma caused by accidents, many of which require hospitalization. About 7,000 hospitalizations have taken place each day under the scheme since it’s launch 50 days back. Minister Vishwajit Rane said the Gujarat model is being studied to improve the universal health scheme in the state. He urged GIM to be more proactive in offering solutions to the health sector. “Give us a vision document taking into consideration the survival and coexistence of the private and government sectors,” he said. – TOI