HEALTH AND MEDICAL TREATMENT EXPENDITURE AND ITS EFFECT ON PERSONAL FINANCES!!

Expenditure on treatment of a family member young or elder is the last but surely not the least reason, besides wrong investments is depreciating assets, for high salaried people not having high net worth even after working for long years. Such expenditures have a very severe and drastic long term effect in case of poor and those earning modest salaries. This expenditure for this class forces them to take debts many times at high interest rates which make them bankrupt or force them to sale their assets be it land , house or gold.This is a major reason for a large majority of poor people remaining below poverty line or adding to it.

As many poor people starve due to hunger and suffer from various diseases as the rich who suffer due to over eating or drinking and other excessive indulgences.While rich pay from their wealth poor pay a very heavy price.

Better late than never after seventy years of independence present  government has addressed and faced the issue head on by making poor people bankable, giving very small premium accident and life insurance cover and now the health insurance of five lakh to these families below poverty line.Its called PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).These policy actions alone are deserving of  people’s support for such a government for future development of the nation. A project of this magnitude and relevance will take some time to mature and overcome the initial issues or problems.

Educated and high salaried people also need to take adequate health insurance for all family members and need to increase it as the cost of medical treatment increases. A difficult point to note is that don’t let those left behind to live with financial sufferings due to debts after the sufferings of diseased family member are over with death. No amount of money can stop a death for which time has come,people and medical faculty both have to realize it.  Along with these measures to make medical treatment available to all those below poverty line ,there is a need to promote health education right from school days. Yoga and its promotion is one part of it but much more can be done. Preventing disease and making living a healthy and balanced life a priority will reduce need for increasing medical infra structure like hospitals etc.      

To ensure good health for the future generations major reforms in education are required where basic primary education is not only free but of excellent quality and educates future generations and motivates them to lead a healthy and balanced life. Physical fitness, self discipline and sports have to form an essential part of the syllabus.Private schools may have to be closed and admissions made compulsory in schools closest to the residence of parents. Parents have to be actively involved in the management of these schools. Development without discipline in a democracy is very challenging and nation needs to be disciplined speedily as slow pace of development is not acceptable any more.

Health is not merely the absence of disease or making treatment affordable and available but a sense of complete well being which leads to a life of happiness and purpose. Less population with better health will make Bharat strong and developed.

Will our people and politicians ruling the nation realize this and act on it ?? We live with hopes and think positively.