Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), Himachal Pradesh, organised an important state convention on Friday with the aim of reorganising and expanding the JSA network in the state and reminding the government of its responsibility to strengthen the public health system.
Health rights activists, representatives of social organisations and public health experts from across Himachal Pradesh participated in the convention. A major focus of the convention was the need for a Right to Health policy for Himachal Pradesh. Members of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan emphasised that such a policy is essential to address the gaps in the existing health system and ensure social accountability in the delivery of health services.
The convention strongly opposed any form of privatisation of health services in the state. Participants critically reviewed the ongoing and proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects and other privatisation proposals in the health sector.
JSA also raised concern over the non-implementation of the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010, and the rules notified in 2012 for regulating private hospitals in Himachal Pradesh and other states. JSA’s National Convenor, Dr Abhay Shukla, said the implementation of this law has been delayed for over a decade due to pressure from the commercial lobby of private hospitals, which has weakened transparency and accountability in the health sector.
He further informed that JSA had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court on this issue. The SC has taken serious cognisance of the matter and is expected to issue directions to 12 state governments, including Himachal Pradesh, to implement the law effectively.
The Patients’ Rights Charter issued by the Union Health Ministry, which contains 20 rights of patients in all public and private hospitals, was also discussed. Participants emphasised the need to ensure observance of these rights in all hospitals in Himachal Pradesh.
The convention held extensive discussions on these issues and prepared a future strategy and concrete action points to ensure that people in Himachal Pradesh have access to affordable, accessible and quality health services.
The participants also discussed the Union Health Budget 2026–27. Professor Indranil Mukhopadhyay, National Co-Convenor of JSA and professor at OP Jindal Global University, said the Union Health Budget represents a betrayal of the commitments made in the National Health Policy.
He pointed out that the National Health Policy 2017 had promised to increase public health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2025, but the present Union Budget allocates only 0.27 per cent of GDP to health, which is barely one-fourth of the promised target. The share of health in the total Union Budget has also declined to 2.07 per cent. After adjusting for inflation, the 2026–27 health budget is effectively lower than the actual expenditure in 2020–21.
Programmes such as the National Health Mission (NHM), which strengthen public health services in rural and urban areas, have seen an effective budget cut of around 8 per cent. Schemes related to women and child health have received only marginal increases, which in real terms amount to a decline due to inflation.
At the same time, the government appears to be increasingly promoting an insurance-based model and private sector partnerships. The budget for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) has been increased by 36 per cent, while allocations for strengthening the public health system have been reduced. The share of resources allocated to states for health services has also declined and stands at 51 per cent in 2026–27, even though the primary responsibility for providing health services lies with the states.
Jan Swasthya Abhiyan said the budget does not present a clear roadmap for building a universal and strong public health system in the country. JSA demanded that the Union health budget be doubled and that at least 5 per cent of the total Union Budget be allocated to the health sector to ensure equitable and quality healthcare for all citizens.
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