KSSP seeks reconstitution of Kerala government health task force
The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad claims the 16-member committee lacks members with public health sector experience.
The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) has sought the reconstitution of the Kerala government’s 16-member high-level task force on health, according to The Hindu.
KSSP president C. Ramakrishnan and general secretary V. Manoj Kumar said in a statement on Tuesday that the task force does not include members who have worked directly within the state's public health sector, possess practical experience with the healthcare system, or have conducted significant research on local health issues.
The KSSP functionaries claimed a majority of the members are heads of corporate hospitals or large private laboratory chains, and that the group includes officials known for a pro-privatisation stance.
The KSSP said that while they are not opposed to using private healthcare specialists for policy making, committees must include representation from public health experts, doctors with experience in government hospitals, health economists, and researchers.
They also stated that committees should include representatives from population groups that rely on government hospitals to prevent commercial interests from being prioritised over people's health needs.
The KSSP leaders said the objective of the task force should be to ensure medical treatment is accessible, affordable, and provided without discrimination.