Peoples Health Science Institute

Peoples Council of Education (PCE) proposes to set up Peoples Health Science Institute with a view to discovering, developing and disseminating a new democratic theory and praxis of health science so as to enable the people of India to enjoy higher quality of material, social and cultural life while living in harmony with Nature and Society.

It is proposed to locate the Peoples Health Science Institute in most backward area where there is no modern facilities for medical science education, health care and health education and training. The likely location is Dudhi in Sonebhadra District of Uttar Pradesh or Vinobaji Puram in Karur District of Tamil Nadu or Ambikapur in Chhatisgarh. Dudhi is a most backward area in Sonebhadra District of Uttar Pradesh. Location of proposed Peoples Health Science Institute at Dudhi having networks of Village Health Centres in a radius of 150-200 Kilometers will prove a boon to suffering masses of Sonebhadra and Mirzapur and part of backward regions of Allahabad and Varanasi Districts in U.P., Rewa and Sahdol Districts of Madhya Pradesh, Ambikapur and Korea Districts of Chhatisgarh and Garhwa and Palamau Districts of Jharkhand.

It will open new opportunities of growth to the peoples of these regions. Majority of the peoples of these areas are scheduled tribes and scheduled castes who have been plundered even after India’s independence. Karur District of Tamil Nadu too is equally backward and poor region. The Peoples Health Science Institute would need 500 acres of land.

CONCEPT

The concept of health involves capacity to enjoy life through creative and fruitful productive works. This is possible only when nutritious food, safe drinking water, clean clothes, hygienic living and environmental conditions, good education, appropriate opportunity for growth and education and easy and quick access to modern medical facilities are available to every member of the given society. So health is not merely absence of disease or illness. It is a much more broader concept. Hitherto prevalent theory and praxis of health care is based on a very narrow concept. Modern Medical Science places greater faith on ‘prevention’ rather than cure. Therefore, it is necessary to build science of peoples health on the broader concept of health.

The proposed Peoples Health Science Institute would be rooted in the broader concept of health. The contemporary health care is market-determined. It is the market which sets all rules and policies of health care including medical science education and drugs. ‘Maximisation of profit’ is the foundation of market. Under such conditions only those can have access to modern medical science education, medicine and access to hospitals who have capacity to pay. Since majority of our people are poor they have no access to it. Health care today means ruin of lower income groups. What it means is modern health education and health care system is anti- peoples and pro-rich. What is anti-people is undemocratic.

It is, therefore, necessary to effect radical change in modern health science education and health care by making it a truly democratic reflecting the cardinal principles of equality, freedom and fraternity. The proposed Peoples Health Science Institute, therefore, would be founded on the theory and praxis of peoples’ democracy. In a sense, it will be an altogether a novel national institute in the field of health science. It involves radical change in the whole personality and behaviour of medical/health practitioners and philosophy of health science. A great deal of preparatory work is called for.

Peoples Council of Education proposes to organize a series of local/regional/national workshops/ seminars/symposia on ‘Health Science Education’ with a view to evolving the new concept and new policy. Organization of All India Peoples Medical and Health Science Convention is designed to this end.

STRUCTURE

Basically proposed Peoples Health Science Institute would be an educational and research & training national institute in the field of Health Science. It will be solely devoted to the task of discovering, developing and disseminating new theory and praxis of health. Its whole structure will be based on the principles of democracy and peoples’ sovereignty. Following units shall form its basic structure :

  1. Peoples Hospital/Health Centre
  2. Peoples Village Health Centres Peoples Council of Education/19
  3. Peoples Nursing College
  4. Peoples Undergraduate and Postgraduate Health Science Education And Research Centre/College
  5. Peoples Health Communication And Training Centre
  6. Peoples Ayurvedic & Herbal Plants/Medicine
  7. Peoples Pharmaceutical Centre Peoples Hospital/Health Centre will be most advanced and referral centre with modern facilities for treatments of all kins of diseases and health care. It will be 3000 bedded hospital. It will be developed in 10 phases.
  8. First phase : 150 bedded
  9. Second phase : 300 bedded
  10. Third phase : 600 bedded
  11. Fourth phase : 1000 bedded
  12. Fifth phase : 1500 bedded 6 Sixth phase : 2000 bedded
  13. Seven phase : 2200 bedded
  14. Eighth phase : 2500 bedded
  15. Ninth phase : 2700 bedded 10 Tenth phase : 3000 bedded manner :

All the necessary infrastructure will be built in phased manner in period of 10-15 years. Peoples of all social classes shall have equal access to the hospital.

There will be Village Health Centre caring to the health needs of 5000 to 10,000 population. All the village health centres shall be integral parts of the Peoples Hospital/Health Centre. All the necessary facilities for health care will be available to the village peoples in their villages. In the event of serious illness or tragedy the concerned person shall be taken to central hospital – Peoples Health/Hospital Centre for appropriate treatment and care.

A Peoples Nursing College will be set up for providing training to paramedical personnel in democratic system of health education, care and treatment. Pharmaceutical Education & Training Centre will train young women and men in pharmacy.

Peoples Health Science Institute shall offer undergraduate and postgraduate democratic education in the field of medical science and health science. It will also create all the necessary conditions for research and development in frontier areas.

The Institute shall also undertake production of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and herbal medicinal plants and drugs. Medicinal plants and herbs will be grown on experimental farm of 200 acres through Peoples Cooperatives to be set up in villages. It will propogate, produce and use low cost drugs.

A Peoples Health Science Communication Centre will be developed for communication of Health Science to the peoples.

MECHANISM FOR HEALTH CARE TO ALL

It is almost impossible to ensure health care to all in the existing market-determined society. However, a way out has to be worked out. Involvement of peoples of all groups on democratic principles in the task of building and management of the proposed Peoples Health Science Institute and Peoples Health Science Village Centre is one mechanism which if tried well can prove helpful. This can be done in following:

  • Consultation and formation of Peoples Committee in villages/ Kasabas/ towns/ blocks/Tehsil/Districts.

  • A collective resolution/decision by the Peoples Committee to build Peoples Health Science centre.

  • A collective resolution/decision by the Peoples Committees to raise resources through voluntary contributions/donations for the purpose of Peoples Health Science Centre. (vi) PROPOSAL It is proposed to raise resources for the purpose of Peoples Health Science Institute in following manner:

  • Insurance of every Member of a Family : Every member of a family can be insured by paying a small monthly amount of Rs. 5/- or 10/- fee for free health care. A family of 5 members will be required to pay @ Rs. 25/- or Rs. 50/- per month in lieu of free health care at Peoples Health Science Institute. Since the Institute shall cover the population located within a radius of 150 Kilometers, at least 100,000 families can be insured in the first phase. This will provide a regular monthly income of (Rs. 25x1,00,000) = Rs. 25,00,000 or Rs. 50,00,000 (Rs. 50x1,00,000). All the details of it shall have to be worked out by the experts.

  • Membership : Peoples can be made members of the Peoples Health Science Institute or Peoples Council of Education. In addition to the existing membership of Peoples Council of Education, following Peoples Council of Education/21 categories of membership of Peoples Health Science Institute can be created.

  • Founder Member : Rs. 100/-

  • Founder Life Member : Rs. 2,600/-

  • Life Member : Rs. 2,000/-

  • Annual Member : Rs. 250/- All such members will constitute the General House of Peoples Health Science Institute/Peoples Village Health Science Centre and a collegium can be formed out of the members. The collegiums can manage the affairs of Peoples Health Science Institute. Its details too will have to be worked out.

  • Donations : An appeal can be made to people of all groups to donate liberally to the Peoples Health Science Institute. Philanthropists and charitable Trusts can be approached for the purpose.

  • Grants : Peoples Council of Education can seek one-time as well as recurring grants from the Government of India as well as State Governments for the Peoples Health Science Institute. Collaborative relationship with Rural Health Mission will have to be built. Rural Health Mission can play vital role in the development of Peoples Health Science Institutes.

    Since poor peoples may find hard to pay in cash, a different approach has to be followed. What the poor people can do is: they can provide their labour to the Peoples Health Science Institute for a given number of days cost of which can be converted into money as their contributions. Through this process the poor people can be made members and be insured for their health care.

    Side by side the Peoples Council of Education shall also try to raise their income through varieties of co-operative production activities. For example, cooperatives of poor peoples can be formed for cultivating medicine and herbal plants, Dairy, or any other productive activities. (e.g. tailoring, washing, gardening, poultry etc)

    A very strong movement in the field of health science exists in today’s India. Quite a number of peoples-oriented health centres/hospitals also exist all over India. All these efforts can provide the founding principles of the proposed Peoples Health Science Institute if a proper networking is done.