Portrait of Narendra Modi
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Narendra Modi on Healthcare

Mixed focus on health (moderate) Position evolved

Narendra Modi's approach to healthcare as Prime Minister has involved a notable divergence between sanitation efforts and budgetary allocation for public health services. Upon taking office in 2014, his administration reduced the central government's healthcare spending, which subsequently continued to see cuts in the second year of his term.

This reduction in spending impacted established public health programs, such as the National Health Mission, which saw decreased funding compared to the preceding government. The New Health Policy (NHP) launched in 2015 marked a policy shift, emphasizing the greater involvement of private healthcare organisations rather than solely focusing on public health goals like reducing maternal and child mortality.

Conversely, Modi has strongly championed sanitation as a crucial component of public health, notably through the Swachh Bharat Mission launched in 2014. This large-scale campaign aimed at eliminating open defecation and constructing millions of toilets, yielding demonstrable improvements in sanitation coverage. Furthermore, his government later introduced a government-funded health insurance program, showing commitment to financial protection in healthcare, even as overall budgetary allocations saw mixed changes.

Context

As Chief Minister of Gujarat, the context shows that Modi's administration was criticized for failing to significantly improve health indices in the state, spending less than the national average on healthcare. This historical context suggests a pre-existing emphasis on other development areas over public health infrastructure.

During his premiership, the focus on sanitation through the Swachh Bharat Mission positions health primarily through preventive environmental measures, while financial investment in curative and primary healthcare services saw initial cuts and a policy turn towards privatization.

Actions Taken

  1. Budgetary action
    Reduced the central government's healthcare spending in the first year of his premiership.
  2. Public health campaign
    Launched the Swachh Bharat Mission ("Clean India") campaign, focused on sanitation and eliminating open defecation.
  3. Policy introduction
    Launched the New Health Policy (NHP), which de-emphasized public health programs and emphasized the role of private healthcare.
  4. Budgetary action
    Healthcare budget for the second year was reduced by a further 15%.
  5. Financial allocation
    Allocated ₹20 billion (US$240 million) for a government-funded health insurance programme as part of a budget increase that year.
  6. Emergency legislation
    Invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Disaster Management Act, 2005 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related Positions

  • Swachh Bharat Mission This flagship sanitation drive by Modi is considered a major government effort directly impacting public health outcomes by improving hygiene.
  • National Health Mission This pre-existing public health program saw a reduction in funding under Modi's initial budgets, signaling a shift in public spending priorities.

Criticism

Public health experts

Criticized the New Health Policy for its emphasis on private healthcare providers and its representation of a shift away from bolstering public health facilities.

Public health experts

Noted that the National Health Mission funding decreased in 2015 compared to the previous year, impacting programs aimed at maternal and child mortality.

Sources1

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.