Notes of Chapter 2 Role of the Government in Health Class 7th Civics
What is health?
• Health means ability to remain free of illness and injuries.
• Apart from disease, there are various factors that affect our health.
• For example, if people get clean drinking water or a pollution free environment, they are likely to be healthy.
Healthcare in India
• India has a large number of doctors, clinics and hospitals.
• The country also has considerable experience and knowledge in running a public healthcare system.
• There are two types of health care facilities:
→ Public health services
→ Private health facilities
Public health services
• The public health service is a chain of health centers and hospitals run by the government.
• At the village level there are health centres where there is usually a nurse and a village health worker.
• At the district level is the District Hospital that also supervises all the health centres.
• The public health service is meant to provide quality health care services either free or at a low cost, so that even the poor can seek treatment.
• According to our Constitution, it is the primary duty of the government to ensure the welfare of the people and provide health care facilities to all.
→ The government must safeguard the Right to Life of every person.
Private health facilities
• A large number of doctors run their own private clinics. In the rural areas, one finds Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs).
• Urban areas have a large number of doctors, many of them providing specialised services.
• Private health facilities are not owned or controlled by the government.
• The patients have to pay a lot of money for every service that they use.
Is adequate healthcare available to all?
• In India, we face a situation where private services are increasing but public services are not.
• Private services are concentrated in urban areas.
• The cost of these services is rather high.
• Medicines are expensive.
• For those who are poor, every illness in the family is a cause of great anxiety and distress.
• They are not provided with basic necessities like drinking water, adequate housing, clean surroundings, etc., and therefore, are more likely to fall ill.
• Many tribal areas have few health centres and they do not run properly.
What can be done?
• It is the responsibility of the government to provide quality healthcare services to all its citizens, especially the poor and the disadvantaged.
Case Study of Costa Rica
• Costa Rica is considered to be one of the healthiest countries in South America.
• The Costa Rican government provides basic services and amenities to all Costa Ricans.
• For example, it provides safe drinking water, sanitation, nutrition and housing.