National
National Health Accounts Estimates for India for 2019-20
⇒ Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog launched the National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates for India for 2019-20 in April 2023.
About National Health Account (NHA) estimates:
- The National Health Account (NHA) estimates for India 2019-20 is the seventh consecutive NHA estimates report prepared by NHSRC, designated as National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) in 2014 by the Union Health Ministry.
- The NHA estimates are prepared by using an accounting framework based on the internationally accepted standard of System of Health Accounts, 2011, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Highlights of the Report:
- The NHA estimates for 2019-20 which is seventh in the series of reports released annually, clearly show that government expenditure for healthcare continues to be the priority.
- The share of Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in total Health Expenditure (THE) declined from 62.6% in 2014-15 to 47.1% in 2019-20. The continuous decline in the OOPE in the overall health spending show progress towards ensuring financial protection and Universal Health Coverage for citizens.
- During this period, the share of Government Health Expenditure (GHE) in the overall GDP of the country has increased from 1.13% in 2014-15 to 1.35% in 2019-20.
- In per capita terms, GHE has doubled from Rs 1,108 to Rs 2,014 between 2014-15 to 2019-20. The government spending on health between 2018-19 and 2019-20 increased by 12%, more than double the growth rate between 2017-18 and 2018-19 which was at 5%.
- Additionally, in General Government Expenditure (GGE), the share of health sector spending has steadily increased from 3.94% to 5.02% between 2014-15 and 2019-20. This clearly indicates that healthcare has been the priority for public investment in the country.
- The increase in government spending on health has an important implication for the reduction of financial hardship endured by households. In the Total Health Expenditure (THE) of the country between 2014-15 and 2019-20, the share of GHE has increased from 29% to 41.4%.
- The share of primary healthcare in Current Government Health Expenditure (CGHE) has increased from 51.3% in 2014-15 to 55.9% in 2019-20. The increased focus on primary healthcare reinforces the government’s decisions to prioritize primary healthcare in the country.
- Another positive trend in the country’s health financing space is the increase in Social Security Expenditure (SSE) on healthcare. This increase in social security has a direct impact on reducing out-of-pocket payments. A robust social security mechanism ensures that individuals will not face financial hardship and the risk of poverty as a consequence of accessing essential healthcare services.
- The share of SSE on health, which includes government-funded health insurance, medical reimbursement to government employees, and social health insurance programs, in THE, has increased from 5.7% in 2014-15 to 9.3% in 2019-20.
National Health Accounts Estimates for India for 2019-20 Report (Official Link)
‘Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex’ (ARTSC)
⇒ Defence Secretary, Shri Giridhar Aramane inaugurated the state-of-the-art P8I simulator named as ‘Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex’ (ARTSC) on 25 April 2023 at INS Rajali, Arakkonam.
- The training simulator complex is named ‘Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex’ to commemorate the distinguished service and the supreme sacrifice made by Late Lt Cdr Ashok Roy, VrC, NM during the gallant action in 1971 Indo Pak war.
Key Points:
- The ARTSC will allow reduction of on aircraft training, thereby ensuring higher availability of aircraft for operational missions.
- This facility will aid the aircrew in practising all operational missions and complex military scenarios and it will provide the men and women in the Indian Navy, the requisite training required to operate one of the most advanced aircraft – the P8I.
The state-of-the-art Boeing P8I aircraft inducted in the Indian Navy in 2013 have flown over 40,000hrs. Designed for Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti Surface Warfare and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions, the aircraft plays a crucial role as eyes of the Indian Navy, in the vast expanse of IOR, whilst undertaking critical maritime operations.
PM lays foundation stone and dedicates to nation various development projects in Silvassa
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various development projects worth more than Rs 4850 crores at Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli on 25 April 2023.
Various development projects:
» The Prime Minister visited and dedicated NAMO Medical Education & Research Institute in Silvassa, the foundation stone of which was also laid by the Prime Minister himself in January 2019.
- It will transform the healthcare services for the citizens of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
- The state-of-the-art medical college includes the latest research centers, a 24×7 Central library equipped with access to national and international journals, specialized medical staff, medical labs, smart lecture halls, research labs, an anatomy museum, a clubhouse, sports facilities and residences for students and faculty members.
» The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone and dedicated 96 projects worth more than Rs 4850 crores to the nation at Sayli ground, Silvassa.
- The projects include government schools at Morkhal, Kherdi, Sindoni and Masat of Dadra and Nagar Haveli District; government schools at Ambawadi, Pariyari, Damanwada, Khariwad and Government Engineering College, Daman; beautification, strengthening and widening of various roads in Dadra and Nagar Haveli district; fish market and shopping complex at Moti Daman and Nani Daman and augmentation of water supply scheme in Nani Daman among others.
» The Prime Minister also handed over the house keys to beneficiaries of PMAY Urban from Diu and Silvassa.
International
SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting
⇒ India as the Chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023 hosted the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 28 April 2023 in New Delhi.
Participation:
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh chaired the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers Meeting.
- Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan participated. India has invited Belarus and Iran, currently observers in SCO, to participate in the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
Theme:
The theme of India’s Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is ‘SECURE-SCO’.
Discussion:
- The Ministers discussed issues of common concern including issues of regional and international security under charter of SCO during the meeting.
- The Defence Ministers discussed amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism.
- At the end of the deliberations, all the SCO member countries signed a protocol, expressing their collective will to make the region secure, peaceful and prosperous.
- The engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which India has shared civilizational linkages, and is considered India’s extended neighbourhood.
» Addressing the Defence Ministers of SCO member countries, Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that any kind of terrorist act or support to it in any form is a major crime against humanity and peace & prosperity cannot coexist with this menace.
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states to collectively work towards eliminating terrorism in all its forms and fix accountability on those who aid or fund such activities.
- Shri Rajnath Singh also elaborated on the concept of ‘SECURE’ floated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the SCO summit in Qingdao, China in 2018.
- He stated that every alphabet of the word ‘SECURE’ reflects India’s commitment towards the multi-dimensional welfare of the region.
- S – Security of citizens
- E – Economic development for all
- C – Connecting the region
- U – Uniting the people
- R – Respect for Sovereignty and Integrity
- E – Environmental protection
» Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh also held bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of participating countries on the side-lines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meet.
About SCO:
» The Shanghai Five, formed in 1996, became the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2001 with the inclusion of Uzbekistan.
- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001.
- The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries are Belarus and Iran.
- SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member States and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them.
» India has ancient civilizational, cultural and spiritual ties with the SCO member countries. India’s membership of SCO in 2017, was therefore, a reaffirmation of New Delhi’s keenness to deepen these historic ties.
- India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region.
- India continues to bring more ideas and initiatives to strengthen cooperation amongst SCO countries.
- Under its Chairmanship, this year, India organised two defence related activities to enhance interoperability amongst SCO member states. The first being a workshop on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and the second was a seminar of SCO countries defence think-tanks on the issue of Armed Forces contributing to Military medicine, Healthcare and Pandemics.
- India stands committed to take forward the Agenda of SCO under its chairmanship.
Current Chair:
» Kazakhstan assumed the rotational chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from July 2023 to July 2024 during the Heads of State Council virtual meeting on July 4, 2023.