Q1. What do you understand about the Public Health Service? Describe in brief.
Ans: Public health services are run by governments both in urban and rural areas. The government has established these hospitals and health centres to provide health care to all citizens. These hospitals provide health care services either free or at a low cost so that even the poor can seek treatment.
Q2. Briefly describe the overall healthcare services in India.
Ans: Adequate healthcare is not available to everyone in the country. About 80% of the population cannot afford all the medicines, which means only 20% of people can afford the cost of medical facilities. The poor people are dependent on the public or government health care services.
The healthcare situation of most people in our country is not good for the poor and disadvantaged citizens.
Q3. Examine the Costa Rican approach to healthcare.
Ans: The Costa Rican is considered to be one of the healthiest countries in South America. The government reduced the expenses on the army and this amount was spent on health, education and other basic needs of the people.
The Costa Rican government provides safe drinking water, sanitation, nutrition and housing. Health education is also considered very important, and health knowledge is an essential part of education at all levels.
Q4. Write a short note on the medical facilities in India.
Ans: India has the largest number of medical colleges in the world and is one of the largest producers of doctors. In the year 1950, India had only 2,217 hospitals, while in the year 2000, there were 18,218 hospitals in India. India gets a large number of medical tourists from many countries.
It means in India, we have the best hospitals in the world. India is the fourth largest producer of medicines in the world and is also a large exporter of medicines.
Q5. Which state government made efforts for the first time for vast public services?
Ans: First, in 1996, the Kerala Govt provisioned 40% of the entire budget for panchayats to provide various facilities for the rural people. In drinking water, food, women's development, education and health, etc., the State Govt of Kerala made many efforts.
Q6. Name the facilities provided by the private healthcare services.
Ans: No doubt private healthcare services are very expensive; however, they provide fast and prompt service. They provide time availability of doctors, immediate emergency services, operation facilities at a time, ventilators, oxygen, and medicines available at each time, Good nursing facilities, neat and clean hospitals, good food facilities for patients, etc.
Apart from this, Space, nuclear, and missile programmes are also funded from the revenues collected as taxes. From taxes, the government runs many programmes to uplift poor and marginalized people.
Q7. What are the challenges faced in the field of health care? Describe briefly.
Ans: Even though India has the largest number of medical colleges, doctors, and hospitals and is a high producer of medicines, there are many adverse situations in the country. The number of doctors with respect to population is much less in rural areas. About five lakh people die from tuberculosis every year, and almost two million cases of malaria are reported every year.
Unavailability of drinking water to all and waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, worms, hepatitis, etc., are found. About half of all children in India are malnourished.
Q8. How is public health service provided?
Ans: Our Central and State governments provided public health services to their people by establishing a chain of hospitals. Governments made plans and policies and allocated budgets for this purpose. Doctors are made through many medical colleges. Primary health centres at the block level and District hospitals at the district level have been established.
In many villages, dispensaries have also been established for the rural public. Aanganwadi and village health workers are appointed at the village level. Thus, our government is providing health services to the public.
Q9. Why are the taxes paid to the governments?
Ans: The government uses tax money to provide many public services that benefit all citizens. Some services such as defence, police, judicial system, highway, roads, drinking water, electricity, education, training programs, healthcare, etc., benefit all citizens. Tax money is also utilized for relief and rehabilitation in natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.
Apart from this, Space, nuclear, and missile programmes are also funded from the revenues collected as taxes. From taxes, the government runs many programmes to uplift poor and marginalized people.
Q10. Briefly describe private health facilities.
Ans: The health care services the doctors provide from their resources are called private health facilities. In other words, private health facilities are not owned or controlled by the government. There are many hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, etc., that private health providers are running.
There are large companies that run hospitals, and some of them are engaged in manufacturing and selling medicines. A wide range of private health facilities exists in our country. A large number of doctors run their private clinics.
Q11. What is public healthcare service?
Ans: Public healthcare service is the responsibility of every government. ‘Right to life’ is a fundamental right directly associated with healthcare services. Every person, irrespective of their social or economic background, has the right to get healthcare services.
The government also take necessary action to prevent diseases like TB, diarrhoea, malaria, jaundice, cholera, chikungunya, dengue, etc. For this purpose, the government established infrastructure and manpower so every person could get medical facilities.
