BJP's health vision receives mixed response

BJP's election manifesto has received a mixed response from the health experts. They also feel that the party did not fulfill its promises made in 2014 manifesto.

New Delhi: Highlights of the health sector in BJP's election manifesto have received a mixed response from the experts from country's health domain. The experts also feel that the party did not fulfill its promises made in 2014 manifesto.

"If we look into the health sector and compare BJP'S latest election manifesto with the previous one, we found that most of the promises made on 2014 remain unfulfilled," said Gargeya Telakapalli, a member from Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA).

He said that the National Health Policy of 2017 has also not been properly implemented. The policy proposed free drugs, free diagnostics, and free emergency and essential health care services in all public hospitals in a bid to provide access and financial protection.

"Not only spending on National Health Mission (NHM) has been decreased but also spending on the entire health sector has been decreased," said Telakapalli. Referring to the BJP's agenda of eliminating tuberculosis, Telakapalli said that TB's major cause is poverty and malnutrition.

"The party in its manifesto also talked about making a National Nutrition Mission...They have decreased spending on Aanganwadi so how come they will make nutrition policy," said Telakapalli.

The BJP in its manifesto highlighted of eliminating TB from India by 2025.In addition, the saffron party in its manifesto also talked about ensuring full immunization coverage for all the children and pregnant women by 2022.