Role of the Government in Health

Health means not only being free from illness but also having clean drinking water, a pollution-free environment, enough food and a life without mental strain. India has many doctors, hospitals and medical colleges and attracts medical tourists. Yet many people, especially the poor, lack basic healthcare, and diseases such as diarrhoea, tuberculosis and malaria still affect millions. Healthcare in India is provided by two kinds of services: public health services run by the government, and private health facilities owned by individuals or companies. The public health system includes primary health centres in villages, district hospitals and large government hospitals, providing care free or at low cost. Private hospitals often charge high fees and may prescribe unnecessary tests and medicines. In the Hakim Sheikh case of 1992, a farm labourer who fell from a train was refused treatment by several government hospitals; the court ruled that the state must provide timely medical care, as it is part of the right to life. Kerala and Costa Rica show how government spending on health, water and food improves people's well-being.

Detailed Worksheet: Role of the Government in Health Section A - Definitions (10 marks) 1. What does health mean? (2 marks) 2. What is a public health service? Give two examples. (2 marks) 3. What are private health facilities? (2 marks) 4. What is a primary health centre (PHC)? (2 marks) 5. What is medical tourism? (2 marks) Section B - Calculations and Applications (15 marks) 6. A family's monthly income is Rs 12,000. A private hospital charges Rs 9,000 for treatment of typhoid while a government hospital charges Rs 600. (i) What percentage of income is the private hospital bill? (ii) The government bill? (iii) How does this affect poor families? (3 marks) 7. A district of 18 lakh people has 6 government hospitals and 36 primary health centres. (i) Find the number of people per hospital. (ii) Per PHC. (iii) Comment on whether this is enough. (3 marks) 8. Give three reasons why public health services are important. (3 marks) 9. A state spends Rs 6,000 crore on health out of a total budget of Rs 1,20,000 crore. (i) What percentage is spent on health? (ii) If it increases health spending to 8 percent, how much will that be? (iii) Name two things the extra money can be used for. (3 marks) 10. List three problems with private health facilities and two ways the government can regulate them. (3 marks) Section C - Diagrams (10 marks) 11. Draw a flowchart showing the levels of the public health system from the village to the city: sub-centre, PHC, community health centre, district hospital and state hospital. (4 marks) 12. Draw a bar graph comparing the number of doctors per 10,000 people in four regions: A 12, B 8, C 5, D 3. Which region needs more doctors? (3 marks) 13. Draw a concept map showing the factors that affect health: clean water, nutritious food, clean surroundings, healthcare and freedom from stress. (3 marks) Section D - Analysis and Higher-order Thinking (15 marks) 14. In 1992, Hakim Sheikh fell from a train and was refused treatment by several government hospitals in Kolkata. (i) Why was he refused? (ii) What did he do? (iii) What did the court say? (iv) Which right was involved? (v) How did this case change health services? (5 marks) 15. Kerala gives a large share of its budget to panchayats to plan for water, food, women's development and education. (i) How has this improved health in Kerala? (ii) What lesson can other states learn? (iii) How has Costa Rica improved health? (iv) Why is spending on water and food also spending on health? (5 marks) 16. A doctor in a private clinic tells a patient to buy expensive medicines and do many tests. (i) Why might this happen? (ii) How does it affect the patient? (iii) What should the patient do? (iv) How can the government ensure fair treatment? (5 marks) Instructions: Time allowed 2 hours. Attempt all sections. Give examples from the chapter and from your own locality.