- Profiteering from illness must come to an immediate end
- Privatisation of public health services must stop and health services be nationalised
- All government employees, elected representatives and their families must compulsorily seek healthcare from government facilities (immediate and full implementation of 2018 Allahabad High Court order)
On Gandhi Jayanti 2nd October, an eight days morning-to-evening (10am-5pm) fast has commenced in Chowk, Lucknow by Socialist Party (India) activists on range of people’s issues.
Today on 2nd October health for all was the theme in focus. The fast began with an all-religion prayer at 10 am in Socialist Party (India)’s district office on Kalbe Abid Road, near old Sabzi Mandi, opposite Mukhtare Halwai, Chowk, Lucknow, after which a discussion was held on range of issues plaguing the old failed promise of health for all.
The most important purpose of government is to organise society so that everyone can remain healthy and be cared for. If our healthcare systems cannot care for all, we are all at risk. The perverse practice of extracting profits from ill-health must come to an immediate end. Healthcare must never be dependent on the capacity to pay but guaranteed by the government as a matter of right.
Had government public health services been stronger and old gold but failed promise of health for all become a reality before the pandemic then that would have been the strongest defence in times of public health emergency posed by the COVID-19.
COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear now how health for all is so inextricably connected to economic security. Nationalizing of health services is the only way to ensure same quality of health services are available for everyone. How can those with money get better standards of healthcare than majority of others? India’s constitution has equality enshrined in it, but are some more equal than others?
Allahabad High Court Justice Sudhir Agarwal had passed orders in 2018 making it mandatory for all those who receive government salary and elected representatives to ensure they compulsorily receive healthcare from government hospitals. Unless rich and poor alike will use same public services how will we ever begin to work towards a fair and equitable world?
Socialist Party (India) demands that without delay:
- Profiteering from illness must come to an end, and all expenses for everyone for COVID-19 and other diseses be fully borne by the government.
- Privatisation of public health services must stop and health services be nationalized to ensure same quality of healthcare is available for rich and poor alike
- All those who receive salary from the government and their families including all elected representatives must compulsorily receive healthcare from government facilities only (implement immediately and fully the Allahabad High Court order of 2018 in this regard)
Mohammad Ahmad, 7007918600
Abhyudaya Pratap Singh, 9559156946
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Socialist Party (India) District Office, Kalbe Abid Road, Near Old Sabzi Mandi, Opposite Mukhtare Halwai, Lucknow
