India still lacks reliable basic healthcare data

 20-Jan-15, The Hindu

Founder and Chair of L.V. Prasad Eye Institute G.N. Rao is universally known for his contribution to the introduction of quality and affordable eye care in India. Apart from his work in ophthalmology, Dr. Rao is well-known for his innovative ideas on healthcare in general and his efforts to make healthcare affordable.

Image: The Hindu

He spoke to The Hindu about the country’s healthcare sector:

"There is a need for healthcare providers, especially policy-makers, to concentrate on generating reliable data on basic healthcare indicators. Barring a few individual studies here and there, we have not been able to take up concerted efforts for a fool-proof epidemiological study of every aspect of health. We have to track all these parameters for another decade so that India has reliable data to help our policy-makers take decisions."

"We have to start immediate measures to strengthen our secondary and primary healthcare services. For that, we need to impart quality training to healthcare professionals. I believe 80 per cent of our ailments can be handled at the secondary and primary level."

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