Kolkata Declaration calls for publicly provided health care for all

Kolkata: Feb 20, 2011

At the ninth Kolkata Group workshop, chaired by Professor Amartya Sen, 45 participants from different walks of life, including social scientists, policy makers and development experts, convened to assess the dimensions of social equity in India, especially as related to poverty, elementary education, and health. The participants assessed that the benefits of economic growth over the past two decades, while substantial, have not translated into health security for people. Many countries in Asia, including even those with lower per capita income, are tending to outperform India in health and healthcare. Influential policymakers in India seem to be attracted by the idea that private healthcare, properly subsidised, or private health insurance, subsidised by the state, can meet the challenge.

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