‘Dawai, ilaj par mehangai ki Bhajpai goli’: Congress attacks Centre over handling of healthcare

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday attacked the central government for its handling of India’s healthcare sector on the occasion of World Health Day and claimed that the ruling party had “sent the country’s health system to the ‘ICU’, citing alarming statistics highlighting the increasing financial burden on citizens.

Kharge alleged that the Centre failed to prioritise healthcare, stating, “Dawai, ilaj par mehangai ki Bhajpai goli”. Mallikarjun Kharge accused the ruling party of threatening the nation’s health infrastructure, citing skyrocketing medical inflation, rising healthcare costs and insufficient government expenditures.

आज #WorldHealthDay पर ये जानना ज़रूरी है कि आख़िर किस तरह मोदी सरकार ने देश की स्वास्थ्य व्यवस्था को ICU में पहुँचाया है ….

महँगे इलाज, कम सरकारी ख़र्च के आँकड़े देते हैं गवाही pic.twitter.com/13fjyz44Eb

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 7, 2025

In a post on X, Kharge pointed to a persistent medical inflation rate of 14 per cent annually over the past five years, which has led to a significant increase in treatment costs.

“900 essential medicines saw price hikes as of April this year, further exacerbating the affordability crisis. A report by Niti Aayog revealed that 10 crore Indians are pushed to the brink of poverty annually due to expensive medical treatments”, he claimed on X.

The Congress leader also highlighted the imposition of GST on several healthcare essentials. “Common people are burdened with an 18 per cent GST on health and life insurance premiums, while medical-grade oxygen, bandages, surgical items, hospital wheelchairs, and sanitary napkins in hospitals are all taxed at varying rates, from 12 per cent to 18 per cent”, he stated.

Kharge stressed that the rising costs were reflected in hospital bills, which saw an 11.3 per cent increase over the past year and pointed to specific treatments, such as angioplasty, whose costs have doubled, and kidney transplants, which have tripled.

The Congress president also attacked the government’s budget allocation for healthcare, which he claimed has dwindled over the years. He noted that, according to the National Health Policy 2017, the government was supposed to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on health, but it has instead allocated just 1.84 per cent. “Moreover, the health budget has seen a 42 per cent reduction over the last five years compared to the total central budget expenditure,” he said.

Posting a video to support his allegations, he said, “For the last 5 years, the medical inflation in the country has been at a fearful 14 per cent rate every year. Prices of 900 essential medicines have increased by this April. The Niti Aayog report says that every year, 10 crore Indians reach the brink of poverty due to expensive treatment. Common people have to pay 18 per cent GST on health and life insurance premiums”.

“Medical grade oxygen has 12 per cent GST, bandages and surgical items have 12 per cent GST, hospital wheelchairs have 18 per cent GST, sanitary napkins in hospitals have 18 per cent GST, and heart treatments have 18 per cent GST. Hospital expenses have increased by 11.3 per cent in a year. The cost of angioplasty has doubled, and the cost of a kidney transplant has tripled”, he claimed.

“As per the National Health Policy 2017, 2.5 per cent of GDP was to be spent on health, but PM Modi’s government spent only 1.84 per cent. The health budget has decreased by 42 per cent in the last 5 years as compared to the total expenditure of the central budget”, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of healthy well-being on the occasion of World Health Day, stating that health is the “ultimate fortune and wealth.”

Taking to X, the Prime Minister expressed commitment to building a healthier world on World Health Day and said that the Centre government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people’s well-being.

“On World Health Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier world. Our Government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people’s well-being. Good health is the foundation of every thriving society!” PM Modi posted on X.

Sharing a video, the Prime Minister flagged the issue of obesity and urged people to reduce their consumption of cooking oil by 10 per cent. PM Modi quoted – ‘Aarogyam Paramam Bhagyam’.

The Prime Minister addressed the rising concern of lifestyle diseases, particularly obesity, which has become a significant health threat and referred to a recent report predicting that by 2050, over 440 million Indians will suffer from obesity.

“Aarogyam Paramam Bhagyam, means, Aarogya hi param bhagya, param dhan hai (Health is the ultimate fortune, the ultimate wealth). Better health is the way to the creation of a better future. Today, our changing lifestyle is challenging for our health. Recently, there was a report on obesity which states that more than 44 crores will suffer from obesity in 2050. These numbers are scary. We have to work on that from now on. We have to cut in our cooking oil consumption. This would be a huge step in cutting obesity. We have to make exercise a part of our lives. Keeping yourself fit will be a huge contribution to Vikshit Bharat,” PM Modi said.

On World Health Day 2025, with WHO’s theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” India continues to strengthen its healthcare systems through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission, marking significant progress in improving maternal and child health, expanding digital healthcare access, and enhancing public health infrastructure.

World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, underscores the importance of global health and calls for collective action to address pressing health challenges. Started by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1950, it unites governments, institutions, and communities in addressing critical health priorities each year.

According to an official release, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made substantial strides in improving India’s public health outcomes through various key initiatives and programmes. The National Health Mission (NHM) has played a central role in this progress. (ANI)