On the occasion of World Health Day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on the Central government, accusing it of pushing India’s healthcare system into crisis. Using the phrase “Dawai, ilaj par mehangai ki Bhajpai goli,” Kharge alleged that under the BJP-led government, essential treatments have become unaffordable for the common citizen.
In a post on X, Kharge blamed the government for neglecting healthcare, highlighting alarming statistics such as:
- A 14% annual medical inflation rate over the last five years
- 900 essential medicines facing price hikes as of April
- 10 crore Indians pushed toward poverty every year due to medical expenses (as per a NITI Aayog report)
- An 18% GST on health and life insurance premiums
- High GST rates on hospital essentials like oxygen, wheelchairs, surgical items, and sanitary napkins
Kharge also pointed out that hospital bills have surged by 11.3% in one year, with the cost of angioplasty doubling and kidney transplants tripling.
Criticizing the Centre’s budget priorities, he said, “As per the National Health Policy 2017, the government was to spend 2.5% of GDP on healthcare, but only 1.84% has been allocated. The health budget has seen a 42% reduction over five years relative to the total central budget.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his World Health Day message, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a healthier India. Emphasizing lifestyle changes, he called on citizens to cut cooking oil consumption by 10% and make fitness a part of daily life, citing the rise in obesity as a critical health threat.
PM Modi quoted the Sanskrit phrase “Aarogyam Paramam Bhagyam” (Health is the ultimate fortune), while also promoting initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission as key drivers of improved healthcare access.
With World Health Day 2025 carrying the WHO theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” the day has become a platform for both celebration and criticism, with political leaders sharing starkly contrasting views on India’s healthcare journey.