Request to the Health Minister of India

We, the undersigned, agree and request the Health Minister of India to implement the following:

1) The Indian Health Expenditure should increase several fold in the coming years. Mr Chidambaram raised it by 22% in 2006, but we need an assurance that this will happen each year until India's Health Spending matches the average for other countries.

2) The Medical Council of India should be provided with extra funds and powers to tackle corruption. It should be able to ensure that uniformity exists in provision of education & training as well as quality of patient care across the country.

3) Like UK, a mandatory health insurance i.e. a small percent of one's earnings should be deducted at source from salaries. An individual may be allowed to choose to have private health cover instead, provided the insurance company pays 10% (or an appropriate amount) to the National Health Budget. Like pension schems, investing in health insurance should be linked with tax rebates.

5) The above is in keeping with the recommendations made in the World Bank Report 'India Raising the Sights:
Better Health Systems for India�s Poor, November 3, 2001.

Further it is hoped that other recommnedations made in this document are implemented as well.

4) Salaries for Medical Practitioners across the country should be uniform and at par to other professions (like IT/MBA).