Role of government in health care system in India: An overview

Health position of the citizens of a country is represented by health care system which has relevance in national development and shows the government's capability and performance in health area. It's the duty of the Government to take care of the health of the people which may be fulfilled only by the supply of adequate health & social measure. Role of state in public health issues is inter-disciplinary and multi-directional. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) which was launched in 2005in India has major innovations which has created a replacement cadre of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA); enhanced the infrastructure of hospitals, and effective utilization of resources. The Government is facing various challenges which include poverty, population explosion, natural disasters, and global pandemic of AIDS & Covid 19. Diseases associated with our new lifestyle are emerging to a great extent. Thus, role of state remains to make sure the supply, accessibility, quality and responsibility of medical aid to the society following the principle of equity. Therefore, a planned and decentralized public health service system which can utilize the resources effectively by ensuring the strong political willpower, community involvement, health legislation, investments in health and more significantly bringing health care as a priority, is the need of the hour. This paper presents the present scenario of healthcare services and personnel; highlights the evolution of the role and responsibility of governments in health development and the challenges facing in India. Present paper also suggests some suitable measures to strengthen the health care system in India.