India needs more provisions for basic health care: Amartya

Market economy has done extremely bad in delivering elementary health care services in the country,” Sen said at a lecture.

The government needs to focus on providing basic health care facilities at a highly competent level. The country is has been found wanting in providing basic health amenities in backward states like Chhattisgarh,Bihar and Jharkhand,the Nobel Prize winner for economics said.

“It is not right to say that planning in India has failed. It is only that the planning is not able to tackle various problems like health care and illiteracy,” he said.

Sen,however,lauded India’s growth trajectory and said public revenue was bound to jump with higher GDP growth.

“In terms of economic growth,India is doing well. When an economy like India grows at a six,seven,eight or nine per cent,public revenue will grow at an even faster rate. It will grow at nine,10,11 and 12 per cent,” he said.

Asked whether India should trim down its defence budget or redistribute national funds,the economist said the country should think more in terms of strengthening security rather than looking to have a oneupmanship against potential external threats.