Role of the Government in Health: Class 7 Civics Chapter Notes

What is Health?

Often, we think of health simply as being free from illness or injury. However, the concept of health is much broader. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This means being healthy is more than just not being sick. It also involves having access to clean drinking water, living in a pollution-free environment, getting adequate and nutritious food, and living without mental stress or strain. A government's responsibility for health, therefore, extends beyond just providing doctors and hospitals. It includes ensuring these basic amenities and conditions that are essential for a healthy life. When we talk about healthcare in India, we must consider all these factors that contribute to our overall well-being.

Key Terms for Exams

Public Health Service

A chain of health centres and hospitals run by the government. They are meant to provide quality healthcare services either free or at a low cost, so that even the poor can seek treatment.

Private Health Facility

Health services that are owned and operated by individuals or companies, not by the government. They are run for profit and are generally more expensive.

OPD (Out-Patient Department)

This is where people are first brought in and treated in a hospital without being admitted to a special ward. It's for general consultations and check-ups.

Medical Tourists

Foreigners who come to a country specifically to get medical treatment, often because it is cheaper or more advanced than in their own country.

Communicable Diseases

Diseases that spread from one person to another through various means like water, food, air, etc. Examples include cholera, chickenpox, and tuberculosis.

PHC (Primary Health Centre)

A basic healthcare unit, usually in rural areas, covering several villages. It typically has a doctor, a nurse, and a village health worker.

Ethics in Medicine

The moral principles that govern the practice of medicine. For instance, prescribing unnecessary medicines or tests for profit is considered unethical.

Public vs. Private Healthcare Services

Must Remember

• The government's primary responsibility is the welfare of the people, which includes providing healthcare.
• Health is a broad concept including physical, mental, and social well-being, not just absence of disease.
• India has a large number of doctors and hospitals, but healthcare is not equally accessible to all.
• Public health services are funded by taxes we pay to the government.
• Private health services have grown significantly but are often unaffordable for the majority of the population.
• About 80% of healthcare facilities in India are private.
• The government must ensure the Right to Life, which includes the right to health, for every citizen.
• Lack of access to clean water and sanitation is a major cause of many illnesses.
• The Kerala experience (1996) involved decentralising planning and giving 40% of the state budget to panchayats to improve local health and education.
• Costa Rica is considered one of the healthiest countries in Latin America because it prioritised health over military spending.

How the Government Provides Public Healthcare

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Case Studies: Positive Approaches to Health

• {"heading":"The Kerala Experience (1996)","content":"In 1996, the Kerala government made a major change. It gave 40 percent of the entire state budget to the panchayats (local village governments). This allowed villages to plan and provide for their own requirements, leading to improved water supply schemes, better functioning of schools and anganwadis, and specific attention to local health issues. Despite these efforts, some problems like shortage of medicines and insufficient hospital beds remained."}
• {"heading":"The Costa Rican Approach","content":"Costa Rica is a healthy country due to a key constitutional decision made years ago. The country abolished its army and used that money to fund health, education, and other basic needs of the people. The government provides safe drinking water, sanitation, nutrition, and housing. Health education is considered very important, and knowledge about health is an essential part of education at all levels."}

Exam Tip

In your exams, questions comparing public and private healthcare are very common. When answering, always use a table format like the one above. Make sure to compare them on at least 4-5 different points like cost, ownership, motive, and accessibility. Also, remember to use keywords from the NCERT book, such as 'welfare', 'profit-motive', 'urban concentration', and 'rural outreach' to score higher marks.

Quick Revision Check

• What are the two main categories of healthcare services in India? Public Health Services (run by the government) and Private Health Facilities (run by individuals or companies).
• Why is it the government's duty to provide healthcare for all? It is the government's duty as part of the 'Right to Life' guaranteed by the Constitution. Healthcare is a fundamental need, and the government is responsible for the welfare of its citizens.
• Where does the government get the money to run public health services? The government funds public health services through the taxes collected from citizens.
• What is the main difference in the motive behind public and private health services? The main motive of public health services is social welfare (to serve the people), while the main motive of private health services is to earn profits.

Frequently Asked Questions