Ramesh for more pro-active role of states in health sector

When countries all over are debating on the issue of increasing public spending on health, Ramesh felt India is a "unique" country where 70 per cent of the health expenditure is private expenditure.

"Today the single most important reason for rural area indebtedness is expenditure on health. We all know that the health system in India has collapsed. India is unique country in the world where 70 per cent of the health expenditure is private expenditure," he said at the Hindustan Times leadership summit here.

In many part of India, he added, public health system simply does not exist.

To improve the social indices, the Rural Development Minister asserted on a fundamental commitment from states for creating elected institutions and institutions of participation, noting that such measures has helped states which have abided by this commitment.

In this regard, he noted that in large part of India where elected representatives are strong or participating institutions are strong, they have better social outputs.

He said the secret of success of Bangladesh and Kenya who have superior infant infant mortality rate and sanitation facilities are due to empowerment of women. "They have been able to deliver than richer country like India". (More)