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Source: The post diversity important in health policy making has been created, based on the article “The diversity blind spot in health policy” published in “The Hindu” on 16th February 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper2- governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health
News: This article discusses the lack of diversity in India’s health committees. It highlights the underrepresentation of women, non-medical professionals, and people from diverse regions, and suggests that this affects the quality of health policies and decisions.
What is the gender distribution in health sector roles?
Gender Distribution in Health Sector Roles in India:
Women make up nearly half of all health workers in India.
However, only 18% of them reach leadership positions in health panels, committees, and hospitals.
In the 23 National Health Committees analyzed, women representation is just 11%.
Remarkably, 36% of these committees do not have any women members at all.
Women constitute 29% of doctors and 80% of the nursing staff.
Nearly 100% of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in India are women.
Women’s roles are often in frontline, lower-paid positions.
Global Gender Distribution in Health Sector Roles:
Women account for 70% of the global health workforce.
They occupy only 25% of senior positions in healthcare worldwide.
Just 5% of women are in leadership roles in the global healthcare sector.
What are the issues with health committees in India?
Underrepresentation of Women: Only 11% of members in India’s National Health Committees are women, and 36% of these committees have no female members.
Lack of Diversity: The committees predominantly consist of men, particularly doctors and bureaucrats, mainly from urban and privileged backgrounds. This limit diverse perspectives in policymaking.
Centralization of Power: Most committee members are from the Delhi-NCR region, indicating a geographical imbalance in representation.
Dominance of Medical Professionals: There’s an over-concentration of doctors in these committees, which may lead to a narrow clinical view in health policy, overlooking preventive and community health aspects.
Limited Inclusivity in Policy Making: The lack of varied backgrounds among committee members affects the inclusivity and relevance of health policies for diverse populations.
Why is diversity important in health policy making?
Reflects Varied Needs: Diverse committees can better address the different health needs of various populations. For example, policies might fail to consider affordability and household dynamics without diverse perspectives.
Enhanced Understanding of Women’s Health Needs: Including women in health policy making brings essential insights into maternal care, reproductive health, and gender-specific diseases. This diversity in perspectives ensures that the health policies developed are more comprehensive and sensitive to the needs of women,
Regional Representation: Over-concentration of individuals from metropolitan areas, particularly Delhi-NCR, overlooks regional health issues. Diverse regional representation is essential for policies that cater to the unique health challenges of different areas.
Professional Diversity: The dominance of doctors in committees can lead to a narrow clinical focus. Including non-medical professionals and NGOs can broaden the scope to include preventive care and social health aspects.
Way forward
To improve health policy making, India needs more inclusive health committees with reserved seats for women and marginalized groups. This approach can ensure diverse perspectives in decision-making, leading to more equitable and effective health policies that address the needs of all population segments.
Question for practice:
Discuss the importance of diversity in health policy making in India, considering factors such as gender representation, regional diversity, and professional backgrounds.
