Definition of Health system
Health system covers a
whole gamut of health activities, health programs, institutions providing
medical care such as hospitals, clinics and primary health care centers and the
policies enunciated by governments to provide optimal health care for its
citizens.
A health system as
described by WHO is the “sum total of all the organizations, institutions and
resources whose primary purpose is to improve health”.
Objectives of Health system
- Development of health policies, plan for their implementation and development of a system of regulation of health services.
- Define and develop the institutional framework to deliver the health services within the preview of this system.
- Allocate and mobilize financial and human resources for its functioning.
- Plan, manage and deliver the health services.
Goals of Health system
- Effective in contributing to better health throughout the entire population.
- Responsive to people’s expectations, including safeguarding patient’s dignity, confidentiality and autonomy and being sensitive to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of all population groups.
- Fair in how individuals contribute to funding the system so that everyone has access to the services available and is protected against potentially impoverishing levels of spending.
Health care delivery system of India
- India is a union of 28 states and 8 union territories.
- States are largely independent in matters relating to the delivery of Health Care to the people.
- Each state has developed its own system of Health care delivery, independent of the Central Government.
- The Central Government’s responsibility consists mainly of policy making, planning, guiding, assisting, evaluating and coordinating the Work of the State Health Ministries.
Levels of health system in India
- At central level
- At state level
- At local and peripheral level
A. Health system at central level
The official “organs” of health system at national level consist of:
(b) The Directorate General of Health Services
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
The union ministry of health and family welfare plays an important role in planning and implementation of effective health services in all over the country. This ministry is headed by Cabinet Health Minister, State Health Minister and Deputy Health Minister. Although these all are political appointments yet these all discharge administrative responsibilities also along with political responsibilities. For assisting these ministers, health secretaries and large administrative staff are also appointed.
Organization setup of union ministry of health and family welfare
 |
| Union ministry of health and family welfare |
Functions of union ministry of health and family welfare
The function of the Union Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare is set out in the seventh schedule of Article 246 of the Constitution
of India under two list:
- Union List
- Concurrent List
|
Functions
of union ministry of health and family welfare |
|
|
Union List 1. International
health relations and administration of port quarantine. 2. Administration
of central institutes such as the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public
Health, Kolkata; National Institute for the Control of Communicable Disease,
Delhi etc. 3. Promotion
of research through research centres and other bodies. 4. Regulation
and development of medical, pharmaceutical, dental and nursing professions. 5. Establishment
and maintenance of drug standards. 6. Census,
and collection and publication of other statistical data. 7. Immigration
and emigration. 8. Regulation
of labour in the working of mines and oil fields. 9.
Coordination with states and with other
ministries for promotion of health. |
Concurrent List The
functions listed under the concurrent list are the responsibility of both
State governments and Union Government.
The
centre and the states have simultaneous powers of legislation; the powers of
the latter are restricted to the framework of such legislation as may be
undertaken by the centre. The concurrent list includes.
1. Prevention of extension of communicable
diseases from one unit to another. 2. Prevention
of adulteration of foodstuffs. 3. Control
of drugs and food poisons. 4. Vital
statistics. 5. Labour
welfare 6. Ports
other than major 7. Economic
and social planning 8. Population
control and Family Planning |
The Directorate General of Health Services
In brief, it is known as DGHS. It is an attached organization of the ministry of health and family welfare. It is a repository of technical knowledge concerning public health, medical education and health care. It is the principal advisor to the central government in both the medical and public health related issues.
Organization setup of DGHS
Functions of DGHS
- Surveys
- Planning
- Coordination
- Programming and appraisal of all health matters in country.
(b) Specific function:
- International health relations and quarantine of all major ports on country and international airport.
- Control of drug standards.
- Maintain medical store depots.
- Administration of post graduate training programmes.
- Medical education
- Medical research
- Central government health schemes.
- Implementation of national health programmes.
- Preparation of health education material for creating health awareness through Central Health Education Bureau.
- Central bureau of health intelligence to collection, compilation, analysis, evaluation and dissemination of information.
- Maintenance of National Medical Library.
The Central Council of Health
The central council of health was set up by a Presidential
Order on 9 August, 1952 under Article 263 of the constitution of India for
promoting coordinated and concreted action between the Centre and the States in
the implementation of all the programmes and measures pertaining to the health
of the nation.
Organization of Central Council of Health
Function of Central Council of Health
- To consider and recommend broad outlines of policy related to matters concerning health like environment hygiene, nutrition and health education.
- To make proposals for legislation relating to medical and public health matters.
- To make recommendations to the Central Government regarding, distribution of grants-in-aid.
B. Health system at State Level
At present there are 28 States in India, with each state
having its own health administration.
The State is the ultimate authority responsible for all the
health services operating within its jurisdiction.
In all the States, the management sector comprises the
State Ministry of Health and a Directorate of Health.
There are three main organs of state health administration:
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare State Government
- State Health Secretariat
- State Health Directorate
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare State Government
Ministry of Health and family welfare state government is headed by Minister of Health and family welfare. He is a cabinet minister and is assisted by Deputy Minister of health and family welfare, and State minister of health and family welfare. These all are the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and are elected by the people. These are appointed as ministers by the MLAs of ruling government after discussion.
These ministers are responsible for health related planning and policy making in the state and these also monitor the effectivity of health care services that have been provided to the people. In health related planning, policy making and monitoring, these ministers are assisted by Health Secretary and Health Director. Health Secretary and Health Director are the officers of Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and State Administrative Services respectively.
State Health Secretariat
Every state has its own separate health secretariat which is headed by the Principal Health Secretary. He is the officer of Indian Administrative Services. He is assisted by an Additional Health Secretary, Joint Health Secretary, Deputy Health Secretary, Assistant Health Secretary and a team of administrative staff.
Health secretary provides technical advice and helps in health related planning, policy making, monitoring and budgeting along with Health Minister.
State Health Directorate
Director, Medical and Health Services is the head of state health directorate. He is the officer of state administrative services. He acts as an advisor for the state government on various health related issues.
For discharging his duty more effectively, Director Medical and Health Services is assisted by Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director and a team of administrative staff.
In certain states of the country, separate Medical Education Directorate and Nursing Directorate have also been setup.
Functions of state health department
- Ensuring planning and implementation of good quality health care services to the people of state in rural and urban area.
- Administration of all medical colleges, nursing colleges and paramedical colleges running in the state.
- Promotion of health related research works.
- Implementation of various national health programmes in the state.
- Ensuring proper implementation of family planning services, maternal and child health services, and immunization services.
- Environmental sanitation and prevention of water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution and soil pollution..
- Collection, interpretation and publication of vital statistics.
- Promotion of indigenous system of medicine AYUSH.
- To provide technical and financial assistance to the voluntary health agencies and Non Governmental Organizations working in the state.
- Appointment of health personnel.
C. Health system at District Level
A district is the major unit of all the administrative functions. For the effective management of administrative functions, all the states of the country have been divided into districts.
District collector or District Magistrate (DM) is the head of district and he is responsible for smooth running of various administrative activities in the district. Superintendent of Police (SP) is responsible for maintaining law and order in the district.
Districts are further subdivided into sub-divisions, and each sub-division is headed by Sub Divisional Officers (SDO).
Each sub-division is further sub-divided into Tehsils. Tehsildar is the in-charge of Tehsil.
Tehsil is further subdivided into Community Development Blocks. Block Development Officer (BDO) is the in-charge of Community Development Block.
Chief Medical and Health Officer (CM&HO) is the head of health department at district level and responsible for all health related services at district level.
0 Comments