Health policy focus: Experts moot health directorate, cadre

THIRUVANANTHPURAM: At a time when people in hundreds are falling to infectious diseases in the state and the health department almost clueless in meeting the challenge owing to lack of expertise, health experts hope that the proposed people’s health policy will address the issue. Experts say the policy should address the need for creating a separate public health cadre ahead of forming the directorate. They want the policy makers to study the functioning and effectiveness of the directorate of public health in Tamil Nadu and come out with a similar set up.

While the major hospitals can continue to function under the directorate of health services, the primary, secondary and community health centres could be brought under the public health directorate. Such a system is quite effective in dealing with communicable and infectious diseases if the results in the neighbouring state are any indication. All immunisation programmes, disease control and prevention programmes have to be brought under the public health directorate. The proposed policy should also come out with a specific plan to improve the management skills of the health officials on the ground to meet the new challenges.

The entire health department is currently functioning in a crisis management mode which is only effective for short period. But what is required is a long term roadmap for tackling the recurring communicable diseases including water borne, mosquito borne diseases besides rat fever. The proposed health policy should also come out with a concrete mechanism for putting in place integrated strategy involving local bodies, Kerala Water Authority, town planning department, health and family welfare besides social justice department.

The planners and policy makers should also come out with a clear plan on utilising the facilities at the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies which started Masters in Public Health (MPH) way back in 1997 for training public health officials. While many states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar North East have made best use of these courses and got their people trained, Kerala authorities are still hesitant to get their people undergo similar training at the centre.