Healthcare sector growth to double by 2012: KPMG
Thursday, 23 July 2009 04:59
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The Business Line 23.07.2009 Healthcare sector growth to double by 2012: KPMG Our Bureau New Delhi, July 22 The Indian healthcare industry is to double in value to $14.2 billion by 2012 and quadruple by 2017, according to a KPMG report. Rising income levels, changing demographics and a shift towards lifestyle diseases from chronic diseases will propel the growth of the sector, it said. “The healthcare system has grown manifold over the past few years, but has not kept pace with the rapid rise in population. Against a world average of 4 beds per 1,000 people, India has just 0.7,” said Mr Pradip Kanakia, Head, Markets and Healthcare Services, KPMG. He added that radical reforms in healthcare infrastructure is necessary, especially the adoption of public-private partnership (PPP) models on a larger scale, besides foreign investment in the sector. Healthcare infrastructure According to the Indian healthcare edition of KPMG’s trend monitor, healthcare infrastructure in Indian States is to grow by an average of 5.8 per cent per annum during 2009-13. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are expected to account for 50 per cent of the total expenditure. Maharashtrais forecastto lead with the highest cumulative spend at $7.3 billion. The report cites rural to urban migration as a reason for the high pressure on urban healthcare services. The fact that the healthcare system is controlled by State authorities is a good opportunity to improve responsiveness at a local level. Says Ms Ameeta Chatterjee, Director-Corporate Finance, KMPG, “The Indian solutions will need to focus on developing affordable, low-cost, basic healthcare services with scalability and sustainability as key drivers.”
Last Updated on Thursday, 23 July 2009 05:09
Finance Commission focuses on better fiscal devolution
Tuesday, 21 July 2009 05:11
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The Business Line 21.07.2009 Finance Commission focuses on better fiscal devolution | States’ views sought on GST implementation. |
— P.V. Sivakumar
Key role: Dr Vijay Kelkar, Chairman of the 13th Finance Commission, in Hyderabad on Monday. Our Bureau Hyderabad, July 20 The Chairman of 13th Finance Commission, Dr Vijay Kelkar, today said that the Commission’s focus is on ensuring continuity and covering of some fresh ground to ensure better fiscal devolution. It is also eliciting views from States on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation as the new tax regime is all set to come into being by April 1, 2010. The Commission is keen to help in ‘grand bargain’ between Centre and States in GST implementation, he said. The country’s financial sector is prudently sound. Inflation is under control and balance of payments position continues to be fine. The Government has initiated monetary, fiscal and sectoral policy measures to minimise the negative impact, Dr Kelkar felt. Speaking at a meeting with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, he said some States have increased capital spending without adequately providing for operational and maintenance expenditure. Complimenting the State for its fiscal record and implementation of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, he expressed the need to reduce the debt to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio, which is currently at 31.1 per cent as against the recommendations of 28 per cent. While Dr Kelkar expressed happiness with State’s efforts to execute Rs 65,328-crore worth projects under public-private partnership mode, he was concerned with the aggregate losses of Rs 2,770 crore in the public sector entities. The Commission cited State Accountant General reports showing cost overruns of Rs 6,127 crore (by 2008) in irrigation projects and incomplete multi-purpose projects with significant irrigation component. “Another major concern that could potentially jeopardise the State’s impressive fiscal achievements is subsidies both food (Rs 1,900 crore) and power (Rs 2,385 crore). Subsidies detract scarce resources and prudent control is essential,” he said. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister earlier highlighted some of the key achievements in State’s fiscal management, increased investment in irrigation sector and efforts to bring in all round development.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 05:12
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WHO to conduct survey on health conditions in IDP camps
Saturday, 18 July 2009 12:36
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Business Standard 18.07.2009 WHO to conduct survey on health conditions in IDP camps | | TV Sriram/PTI / Colombo July 18, 2009, 14:01 IST | | |
The World Health Organisation(WHO) will conduct a survey in various relief camps in Sri Lanka's North to check the health conditions of displaced Tamils, even as it described reports of the number of deaths due to diarrhea as "exaggerated".
Firdosi Rustom Mehta, new Representative for the WHO in Sri Lanka, said the situation pertaining to the maternal and childcare conditions in the IDP camps are being monitored by the organisation. He said a survey will be undertaken after three months to evaluate the situation.
Presenting his credentials to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday, Mehta said "the death rate speculated by some section of media due to the diarrhea disorder in relief villages and camps housing the IDPs were exaggerated.
He pointed out that the actual figures of those affected due to the disease were well within the accepted standards and informed that the WHO had also issued a clarification in this connection.
The top WHO official said he had visited the IDP camps over five times during the past three months and that during each visit, had found the situation to be "rapidly improving".
Commending the government of Sri Lanka in this connection, Mehta said that the government should be given "full credit" for the efforts taken, a Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry statement said.Welcoming Mehta, Bogollagama thanked him for clarifying on the misinformation on the death rate attributed to the diarrhea disorder in some sections of the media, the statement said. The minister said the government is continuing with its efforts to improve the conditions in the camps.
Bogollagama also briefed Mehta on the discussions President Mahinda Rajapaksa had with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon during the recently concluded Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Egypt where the situation in the IDP camps were also discussed.
Referring to the work done by the WHO in Sri Lanka, Mehta outlined the areas of concern for the WHO such as maternal and childcare, the outbreak of dengue, H1N1 and the situation of the IDPs in the camps.
Discussing the incidents of dengue, Mehta, a scientist, said incidents of dengue is on the decline in Sri Lanka.
Bogollagama said there is a need to eradicate the mosquito menace as it poses many health hazards and inconveniences to the public. He said public should become socially aware of the problem and its impact on the society.
In respect of H1N1 virus, Mehta stated that the thermal scanners at the Bandaranaike International Airport are functioning well and that there are about 40 cases detected so far, mainly from tourists entering Sri Lanka.
He said medicines were also provided by the WHO to treat at least 3,00,000 patients at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Angoda in Central Sri Lanka.
Last Updated on Saturday, 18 July 2009 12:38
G8 welcomes developing states, eyes climate, trade
Thursday, 09 July 2009 11:24
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Source: Deccan Herald Date : 09.07.2009 | G8 welcomes developing states, eyes climate, trade | L'AQUILA, Italy (Reuters) |
Leaders of the world's richest and main developing nations meet on Thursday to try to find common ground on global warming and international trade, with the poorer countries seeking concessions.
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|  US President Barack Obama will chair the climate discussions, but hopes of agreeing ambitious goals have faded after China and India rejected demands to halve emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
The talks take place on the second of a three-day Group of Eight summit, with discussions broadened to include the heads of new economic powerhouses in recognition that the world's problems can no longer be dealt with by an elite few. The fragile state of the global economy dominated the first day of the annual G8 summit, with the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada and Russia acknowledging there were still significant risks to financial stability. They also agreed to try to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit) above pre-industrial age levels and pledged to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by between 50 and 80 percent by mid-century. The 17-member Major Economies Forum (MEF), which groups the G8 plus big developing nations, also looks set to embrace the 2 Celsius goal on Thursday, but is balking at further commitments ahead of a decisive U.N. climate conference in December. Indian negotiators said developing countries first wanted to see rich nation plans to provide financing to help them cope with ever more floods, heatwaves, storms and rising sea levels. Temperatures have already risen by about 0.7 Celsius since the start of the Industrial Revolution ushered in widespread burning of fossil fuels, and Italy's prime minister said everyone should share the burden of tackling the problem. "It would not be productive if European countries, Japan, the United States and Canada accepted cuts that are economically damaging while more than 5 billion people in other countries carried on as before," Silvio Berlusconi said. ECONOMY, CURRENCIES, TRADE Broader economic concerns will also be high on the agenda on Thursday, with emerging nations complaining they are suffering heavily from a crisis that was not of their making. China, India and Brazil have all questioned whether the world should start seeking a new global reserve currency as an alternative to the dollar. They have said they may raise this on Thursday after discussing it among themselves on Wednesday. Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters developing economies in the so-called "G5" had suggested the use of alternative currencies to settle trade between themselves. The debate is highly sensitive in financial markets, which are wary of risks to U.S. asset values, and the issue is unlikely to progress very far in L'Aquila. However, a breakthrough on trade did look within reach. Diplomats say the G8 and G5 should agree to conclude the stalled Doha round of trade talks in 2010. Launched in 2001 to help poor countries prosper, they have stumbled on proposed tariff and subsidy cuts. "We commit to reach a rapid, ambitious, balanced and comprehensive conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda," the G8 said in a joint statement on Wednesday. G5 nations issued their own statement, saying they would try to address "any outstanding problems" on trade talks and that a successful conclusion of Doha would provide "a major stimulus to the restoration of confidence in world markets." But they also called on the world's richest nations to tear down trade barriers and restore credit to the poorest countries. |
Last Updated on Thursday, 09 July 2009 11:31
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked India Inc to emulate the example of Bill Gates to share their wealth with marginalised people after the Microsoft co-founder was conferred the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.
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