Revisiting perspectives in public health for people’s health and wellbeing

Abstract

The paper traces the evolution of modern healthcare services on the ground and the changing concept of public health in India to see how these differ from the countries of their origin and why? It traces the transition of public health in India over three distinct periods - the colonial period, its initial welfare oriented social democracy and its drift into the contemporary neo-liberal phase. It explores the links between the shifting political ideologies and health policy and its links with international players, highlighting the structural changes brought in by the Reforms. The Health Sector Reforms have deformed the public sector healthcare system that is now fragmented and stagnating. They have allowed the private/corporate sector to take over medical care, rather than be a partner in strengthening the public sector healthcare system. The conceptual digressions within public health that rationalise the Health Sector Reforms are critiqued and the paper proposes the kind of intellectual enquiry that is required to resurrect public health and make wellbeing of the majority possible.