IMA floats health manifesto for parties

Vijayawada: The members of Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanded that all the political parties' focus on health which was given least importance with a meagre 1.1 per cent in GDP by the government.

In a meeting held at IMA here on Tuesday, the members demanded that all the political parties include their health manifesto in their election manifestos.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr P Gangadhar Rao, IMA national vice-president announced that all the members of IMA at the national level will support the political party which includes the health manifesto in their election manifesto in the coming elections.

He said that the IMA demands that GDP share in health care should be increased to five per cent, universal health coverage to all irrespective of socioeconomic group or geographical location, increase the number of PHCs, increase number of government medical colleges, address the shortage of MBBS doctors in rural areas, reducing the health expenditure of common man among other things.