The Lancet is ready to publish a severe attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sidelining health since he came into power in May, 2014. It is warning of a “collapse” if the country fails to invest in combating non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart problems.
The Lancet study will be published on Dec. 11, will also censure Modi for not delivering on his poll promise of universal health coverage. In an interview with The Times Of India, Richard Horton, editor-in- chief of The Lancet, said that “health is an issue of national security” for India, but Modi isn’t taking it seriously. According to him health has just completely dropped off the political agenda. Before Modi came in, it wasn’t as high in the agenda as it should have been, but it was definitely on the agenda.
Noting that India currently spends 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on public health, Horton called on Modi to increase this figure, use his personal leadership in rolling out universal health coverage, reduce child and maternal mortality, and address the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases.
