Why should governments invest in Public Health ?

Here in this column we will discuss about why should government spend or invest on public health,first lets begins with definition of health.

According to world health organisation “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

We will discuss why  Government of any country and in particular under developed and developing countries should spend on public health in following views

·        Economic

·        Social

·        Moral

    Economic view

In economic view even when capital flows in to the country through some fdi ,fii when they open up economy or finding natural resources in country itself ,it will not kick start the economy without the man power in good health condition(able bodies in economic terms).any company will invest in a particular country only if they find adequate power and labour resource beside natural resources. So even though a country have adequate power and natural resources with out man power it will boom the economy.

Also when malnourishment is rampant in a country which is also a health issue they are jeopardising the next generation economic growth now itself.thus by neglecting  health will effect this generation and next generation economic development.

Social view

Poor health reduces the productivity of individual, leads to higher number of  absent days at work ,both working to reduce the lifetime savings of the individual and the family as whole. Also if public health system is not provided one has to bear the health expenditure, which will act as double edged sword on the impoverished. Once the condition degrades civil uprisings will take place in country and instability is created.

Moral view

According to Article 21 of constitution of India and Article 3 of Universal declaration of human rights everyone is entitled   the right to life and liberty. Indian Supreme court using judicial activism it concluded that right life means not mere physical existence but life with dignity .and it’s the moral responsibility of the government to provide so in which health is a major concern along side with diet and all.Also cost of treatment of some diseases are out of range for poor and deprived ,in those cases government should take active participation and  provide treatment for them .

Thus to conclude its government economic requisite , social necessity , moral responsibility  to invest on public health.

                                                                         ----- Sekhar-----