HEALTH
Congress was the first political party to acknowledge that health of the people and healthcare are the responsibility of the government. Congress introduced the first healthcare scheme in India and firmly believes that all citizens have the Right to Health.
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6. Budget allocation for Health will be increased step by step every year to achieve 4 per cent of total expenditure by 2028-29.
This commitment is integrated with other healthcare promises:
1. We promise that healthcare will be universal and free in public health centres such as hospitals, clinics, primary health centres, mobile healthcare units, dispensaries and health camps. Free healthcare will include examination, diagnostics, treatment, surgery, medicines, rehabilitation and palliative care.
2. The Rajasthan Model of cashless insurance up to 25 lakhs will be adopted for universal healthcare.
3. Primary Health Centres (PHC) will be upgraded according to Indian Public Health Standards norms, and diagnostics will be added in each PHC.
4. We will encourage the introduction of health insurance schemes in the private sector and public sector. The current universal healthcare programme will be redesigned for different sections of the people and will allow enlistment of private hospitals, non-profit health facilities and health centres under the schemes.
7. Congress will double the hardship allowance of doctors serving in rural areas, and provide suitable residence facilities.
8. The contribution of the Central government to the pay of frontline health workers (such as ASHA, Anganwadi, Mid-Day Meal cooks, etc.) will be doubled.
9. We will establish one government medical college-cum-hospital in each district.
10. All vacancies in medical and paramedical posts in public health institutions and all vacancies in medical colleges will be filled in three years.