Structural, systemic changes needed to achieve SDGs in health

The Centre today said "structural and systemic changes" are needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the health sector and "business as usual" approach will not help it.
"Business as usual will not help in achieving the health agenda under Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In order to reach the last-mile goals, things will need to be done differently.
"This will require structural and systemic changes in our ways of implementation, of measurement and of governance and aligning the incentives to service providers," Minister of State for Health Shripad Yesso Naik said.
He was speaking at the concluding session of a two-day national consultation on transitioning from Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) to SDGs which was jointly organised by the Health Ministry WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF.

"To achieve the goal of ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all, we have to reach out to the unreached populations and meet their healthcare needs," he was quoted as saying in an official statement.
The minister pointed out that for achieving SDG-3 centred on universal health coverage, the government is working at strengthening access to primary health care at the sub-centre level to provide a comprehensive package of healthcare services.

He said states are being supported to expand access to free drugs and diagnostic services to reduce high out-of-pocket expenditures apart from strengthening district hospitals for multi-speciality to assure continuity of care.

"The continuity of care will run on a robust IT backbone thereby improving efficiency of healthcare. Moreover, measures to reinforce quality of care in public sector facilities such as the launch of National Quality Assurance Programme and the Kayakalp awards are being implemented.
"The new national Health Protection Scheme announced by the government in the budget will help provide affordable health cover for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisations for the poor and vulnerable population, he said.
Naik said there is a need to identify the key strategic approaches that build on the gains which have been made so far, address weaknesses and nudge towards our goals.

He said this will be challenging as it is nearly "impossible" for the governments at central or state levels, working alone to achieve the multiple targets that are bundled in SDG 3.
In another letter, the Ministry letter said, "I am
directed to refer to the letter of MCI recommending to the central government not to renew the permission for admission of 5th batch of MBBS students against increased intake from 100-150...For the academic year 2016-17 and to say that central government has decided to accept the recommendation of MCI.
"You are directed not to admit any students against increased intake from 100-150 in MBBS course for the academic year 2016-17. Admission in the next batch against increased intake for the year 2017-18 will be made only after the permission of the central government," one of the letters said.

During the regulator's executive body meeting on May 13, MCI had recommended action including de-recognition and discontinuation of admissions against medical colleges for "failing" to meet the minimum standards, after it conducted inspections in these colleges.