Highlights:
- SC order of shifting 1m stray dogs to shelters raises concerns of triggering zoonoses
- Ayushman Bharat woes: 1,114 hospitals de-empanelled, 1,504 penalized for fraud
- Not only does HealthCare suffer from Inequity, but food security, essential for health, does too
Download: https://uho.org.in/nl/2025-08-15-newsletter.pdf [copy & paste the link]
Website: https://uho.org.in
The UHO Addresses Critical National Issues on India’s 79th Independence Day: Calls for Strategic Solutions in Public Health and Animal Welfare
August 15, 2025 – As India celebrates its 79th Independence Day, Dr. Amitav Banerjee, in a recent newsletter from the Universal Health Organisation (UHO), draws attention to three national issues: The Supreme Court gave a directive about stray dogs, the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme faces problems and fraud, and combating malnutrition The UHO stresses the need for deep, long-term fixes that help the public and use expert advice.
As we enjoy our freedom day, we should talk about big troubles that hit both our homes and our world,” Dr. Amitav Banerjee stated. “We can’t look away from things like keeping our spots safe from stray dogs, cutting bad acts in big health schemes, and combating malnutrition. The UHO wants to start these talks! But they won’t stop there; they’re keen on finding good ways that change people’s lives for the better. And here’s a thought: what if all had a voice? The group thinks pooling animal lovers, vets, city planners—you name it—is key to making fair plans that care for both people’s safety and animal rights.
Supreme Court Order on Stray Dogs: A Call for Humane, Practical Solutions
The Supreme Court’s recent directive for the relocation of stray dogs in the Delhi region to dedicated shelters has ignited significant debate. With an estimated over 1 million stray dogs in Delhi and the NCR, authorities face immense logistical challenges in establishing adequate infrastructure. The UHO highlighted expert concerns regarding the practicality and potential adverse effects of such a move, including:
- Feasibility: The impracticality of building shelters for such a large population on short notice.
- Health Risks: Potential for rapid spread of diseases like leptospirosis and rabies among dogs in crowded shelters, posing risks to both animals and humans.
- Behavioral Changes: The “vacuum phenomenon,” where aggressive dogs from outside areas may move in, increasing overall canine aggression.
- Ecological Imbalance: Concerns raised by noted animal rights activist and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, suggesting that removing dogs could lead to an increase in other pests like rats and monkeys, as observed in historical precedents (e.g., Paris in 1880). Ms. Gandhi also estimated the cost of such an endeavor at an astronomical ₹15,000 crores.
The organization stressed the importance of consulting all stakeholders, including animal activists, veterinarians, and urban planners, to devise sustainable solutions that balance public safety with animal welfare.
Ayushman Bharat’s Challenges: Combating Fraud and Strengthening Public Health
Dr. Amitav Banerjee reiterated its long-standing concerns regarding widespread fraud and malpractice within the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme. Reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) have highlighted issues such as fake patients, unnecessary procedures, and wrongful claims by hospitals.
In response, the government has taken significant action:
- Over 1,014 hospitals have been delisted from the scheme due to poor service or fraudulent activities.
- Penalties totaling ₹122 crores have been imposed on 10,504 hospitals for various malpractices.
- Approximately 549 hospitals have been suspended.
- A National Anti-Fraud Unit has been established to monitor and prevent further misuse.
The UHO pointed to the chronic shortage of doctors, nurses, and functional equipment in government hospitals, arguing that solely relying on private sector involvement leads to the very malpractices now being addressed.
Dr. Amitav Banerjee Urges Reflection on India’s ‘Unfinished Freedom’ Amidst Widespread Health and Food Insecurity
Dr. Banerjee’s message underscored two pervasive challenges: deeply entrenched healthcare inequality and a profound crisis of food insecurity, exacerbated by profit-driven policies and a lingering colonial legacy.
“Our people are not getting equal healthcare,” stated Dr. Banerjee, lamenting the neglect of primary and secondary public health centers in favor of tertiary care in large cities. He stressed the urgent need for government and public hospitals to strengthen foundational health services to prevent the progression of diseases that necessitate expensive urban tertiary care, a demand, he noted, rarely prioritized by governments without significant public pressure.
The newsletter then delved into the alarming issue of food insecurity, citing a recent commentary in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) which identifies it as “the biggest challenge of our time.” Dr. Banerjee highlighted the stark paradox within India: affluent sections grappling with obesity due to overconsumption, while the nation simultaneously contends with one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in Asia and Africa.
“Food security means that food should not only be available but also accessible, safe, and stable for all,” Dr. Banerjee articulated, pointing out that despite sufficient general food availability and grain production, effective distribution to the poor remains a monumental challenge. He critically analyzed the prevailing system, asserting, “We are moving from just profit food to profit, not thinking about public interest.” He dismissed the notion that population growth is the primary driver of food shortages, instead emphasizing that commercial interests, political economy, and policy choices dictate who gets food and who does not.
Dr. Banerjee further linked these issues to a “colonial legacy” that continues to influence trade policies, land ownership structures, and corporate profit motives. He argued that current practices, which prioritize the export of cash crops over feeding local populations and promote monoculture, are direct descendants of colonial exploitation. He also raised concerns about the environmental and social impact of genetically modified seeds and the commercial interests behind solutions like fortified rice, questioning their efficacy and potential for adverse health effects.
A staggering statistic highlighted by Dr. Banerjee was the global food waste, amounting to an estimated $1 trillion annually – enough to feed one billion people for a day. This, he argued, is a clear sign of systemic failure in food management and distribution.
Concluding his message on India’s 79th Independence Day, Dr. Banerjee issued a powerful call for collective action and introspection: “We will have freedom only when we get adequate food and healthcare when we need it. The foundation of a good country is good health, good nutrition, good healthcare, and good education. We are still struggling with all this, even after 79 years. We must collectively engage our representatives for long-term solutions to these basic problems, not short-term fixes.”
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