Healthcare allocation
IMA hall in Patna on Friday. Picture by Ashok Sinha
The doctors' fraternity on Friday accused the Centre of failing to address the impending crisis in the health sector in the Union budget presented earlier this week.
"The Union budget 2016-17 has very little emphasis on the healthcare sector. In fact, the current allocation for health is roughly the same as the profit earned by the pharmaceutical industry. The current budget allocation for the health sector is Rs 37,061 crore, while profit of the pharmaceutical industry last fiscal was Rs 32,733 crore. The need of the hour is to increase allocation of funds so that public health facilities are able to provide the people quality care," said Indian Medical Association state chapter presidentSachchidanand Kumar.
He was speaking at a programme organised by Indian Doctors for Peace and Development.
Sachchidanand added: "Few good things in the budget are the introduction of the national dialysis service programme and extension of the Jan Aushadhi Yojana."
Labour demand
Bihar Shram Sangathan Manch, a front of labourers and workers affiliated to major trade unions, convened a meeting on Friday and decided to observe "Resistance Day" on March 10 at all district headquarters in Bihar to press for their 12-point demand, including implementation of social security scheme.
The members have demanded the Centre to take immediate steps to curb inflation, alleviate unemployment, stop exploitation of workers, recall the land acquisition ordinance, check foreign investment in defence, railways, insurance and pension sectors and fix minimum wages at Rs 18,000 a month among other demands.
Representatives of All India Trade Union Congress, Indian National Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Central Council of Trade Unions and All India United Trade Union Centre attended the meeting.
