Role of the Government in Health

Q18. What did the court ask the state government in Hakim Sheik case and why?

Ans. Hakim Sheik was denied treatment at various government hospitals.

Therefore, the Court asked the State Government to give him the money that he had spent on his treatment.

Q19. How can we prevent and treat illnesses?

Ans. In order to prevent and treat illnesses we need appropriate healthcare facilities such as health centres, hospitals, laboratories for testing, ambulance services, blood banks, etc., that can provide the required care and services that patients need.

Q20. What do village health workers do?

Ans. At the village level there are health centres where there is usually a nurse and a village health worker. They are trained in dealing with common illnesses and work under the supervision of doctors at the Primary Health Centre (PHC).

Q21. Why government hospitals are less expensive as compared to private hospitals?

Ans. Government uses tax money for providing many public health services for the benefit of all citizens. Therefore, government hospitals are less expensive. As private health services are run for profit, the cost of these services is rather high.

Q22. In order to earn more money, these private services encourage practices that are incorrect. Comment

Ans. In order to earn more money, these private services encourage practices that are incorrect. At times cheaper methods, though available, are not used. For example, it is common to find doctors prescribing unnecessary medicines, injections or saline bottles when tablets or simple medicines can suffice.

Q23. Why are poor people more likely to fall ill?

Ans.  Those who are poor are in the first place undernourished. These families are not eating as much as they should. They are not provided basic necessities like drinking water, adequate housing, clean surroundings, etc., and therefore, are more likely to fall ill. The expenses on illness make their situation even worse.

Q24. What are the functions of public health system?

Ans. Functions of public health system are:

                         i.        To provide quality health care services either free or at a low cost, so that even the poor can seek treatment.

                        ii.        To take action to prevent the spread of diseases such as TB, malaria, jaundice, cholera, diarrhoea, chikungunya, etc.

Q25. What are the important aspects of public health system?

Ans. One of the most important aspects of the public health system is that it is meant to provide quality health care services either free or at a low cost, so that even the poor can seek treatment. Another important function of public health is to take action to prevent the spread of diseases such as TB, malaria, jaundice, cholera, diarrhoea, chikungunya, etc.

Q26. What are the different ways through which the government can take steps to provide healthcare for all? Discuss.

Ans. Government can take following steps to provide healthcare for all.

                        i.        By increasing healthcare facilities such as hospitals, ambulance service, etc.

                       ii.        By organizing free health checkup camp especially in rural and backward areas.

                      iii.        By spreading health related awareness among the people.

Q27. ‘Improvement in water and sanitation can control many diseases.’ Explain with the help of examples.

Ans. Water and sanitation are the basic necessities for the maintenance proper health. Use of contaminated water can cause disease such as cholera, skin diseases and can also cause cancer, reproductive problems, typhoid and stomach ailments. Sanitation is important for all, helping to maintain health and increase life-spans. Poor sanitation causes infectious diseases including cholera, typhoid, infectious hepatitis, polio, cryptosporidiosis, and ascariasis. Thus, improvement in water and sanitation can control many diseases.