Urgently invest in Public Health sector, asserts Prof Thankappan

Prof Thankappan, the renowned public health expert is not hopeful that the COVID-19 pandemic will make the Government of India invest in the public health sector. He asserted that politicians across the world don't invest in sectors that are not visible. Infrastructure like roads and highways give an impression of development. He went on to explain that Public health is not only curative. It also involves preventive and rehabilitative measures.

India's health budget at the time when it was flourishing economically was 1.28% of our entire GDP. An amount lower than most countries in the sub-saharan region. If India is to grow into a developed nation in next 15-20 years it has to take care of the health and human resources of its people.

Prof (Dr) KR Thankappan in an interview with National Herald explained how Covid 19 could have been contained if we were prepared. He explained that the non communicable diseases like Diabetes and hypertension are high in southern states of India. Had the public health care been robust the mortality rate would have been much lower.

Prof (Dr) KR Thankappan is Emeritus Professor in Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology. Watch the interview to understand what kind of public health services we have and what we need to do to avoid a repeat of second wave of COVID-19.