Health Infrastructure and Health Policy of Gujarat | Gujarat State PSC (GPSC) Preparation: All subjects - GPSC (Gujarat) PDF Download

Healthcare Services and Infrastructure in Gujarat

• Gujarat provides comprehensive medical services and cost-effective treatment through a network of District hospitals, Sub-district hospitals, and Private Specialty Hospitals. The most sought-after specialties in the state include cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, infertility treatment, joint replacement, and eye surgeries.
• The state boasts an extensive healthcare infrastructure with 25 sub-district and 25 district hospitals, complemented by approximately 20 private specialty hospitals. Additionally, private clinics and hospitals operated by individual doctors are prevalent, with a majority of the population relying on these private practitioners for medical care.
• In rural areas, the healthcare system comprises 7,274 sub-centers, 1,072 primary health centers (PHCs), and 253 community health centers (CHCs), addressing the primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare needs. Urban areas are served by 106 Urban Family Welfare Centers, some of which are managed by NGOs, trusts, municipalities, and municipal corporations, along with 28 urban health posts.
• Gujarat has around 2,528 allopathic hospitals, with only 503 under the state health department, reflecting a well-developed private healthcare sector. These private hospitals are mostly managed by practicing doctors, groups of doctors, or trust and charitable organizations.

Evolution of Health Policy in Gujarat

• The first health policy, formulated in 1947, was based on two key principles: ensuring no denial of care due to inability to pay and the state's responsibility to provide healthcare to its citizens. However, evolving needs necessitated a review of these principles. The first National Health Policy in 1983 emphasized the importance of private sector involvement in healthcare and the need to increase access to publicly funded primary care.
• This policy was revised in 2002, focusing on expanding access to a decentralized public health system, increasing public health investment, and integrating various programs. Over time, states, including Gujarat, have developed their own policies to promote and expand health services, aiming to strengthen the public health system while encouraging private sector investment. An overview of these policies is provided in subsequent sections.

Public Health Act, 2007

• The Public Health Act of 2007 was established to define and outline the health rights of citizens, the responsibilities of the public health system, and the legal and organizational frameworks necessary to implement these rights. The Act specifies the duties of the State Government and the Public Health Authority, and it mandates the creation of a State Public Health Board as well as the development of Public Health Plans. 
• It also delineates the structure of the public health system for both rural and urban areas, addresses conditions of public health importance, notifiable and locally endemic diseases, and organizes public health management during disasters, outbreaks, and public health emergencies. Additionally, the Act sets forth the rights and responsibilities of both healthcare workers and users of healthcare services.

Population Policy

• Gujarat faces significant socio-economic disparities within the state, across districts, and between urban and rural areas, highlighting the need for an area-specific approach to assist the most vulnerable populations. The state's growing population exerts pressure on natural resources, particularly in its arid and semi-arid regions. Additionally, increasing urbanization and migration contribute to various social issues, including crime, poverty, homelessness, and the spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS.
• The objective of the State Population Policy is to provide comprehensive reproductive health care services, with a focus on addressing the unmet need for contraception. The state aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and support systems to improve access to these services, with the goal of reducing the total fertility rate (TFR) from the current level of 3.0 to the replacement level of 2.1 by the year 2010. An inter-sectoral approach will be employed to achieve these objectives.

Mental Health Policy

• The goal of the mental health policy is to establish effective, efficient, and comprehensive community-based mental health services that encompass promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. These services will be supported by a network of primary, secondary, and tertiary care in both the public and private sectors.
  The policy aims to achieve its objectives through four key areas:
  • Service Provision
  • Institutional Development and Finance (including policy formulation and planning capacity)
  • Organizational Linkages
  • Boundary Conditions
• To foster innovation in the Mental Health Sector, the government is in the process of setting up an organization called the Gujarat Foundation for Mental Health and Allied Sciences, registered as a not-for-profit company. This organization will stimulate, fund, and guide innovation projects within the sector.
  The main tasks of the Mental Health Foundation will include:
  • Inviting interested parties to submit project proposals aligned with the policy directions.
  • Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of these projects.
  • Preparing recommendations for policy decisions.
  • Advising the Government on issues related to administrative reform.
  • Promoting multi-stakeholder cooperation in the development of the Mental Health Sector.
  • Establishing a Mental Health documentation system.