Actually by and large Indian government has done a good job fighting diseases like Polio. They set up centers accessible to nearly every one, where you could have Polio drops administered to kids. Generally these are near places of worship, schools or community centers. The government also bought in celebrities to campaign for that.
I see the same for Tuberculosis, malnutrition, maternal health, child diarrhea and many other public health things.
But definitely more can be done.
Please note India also has massive corruption in private set ups. Pointless tests, surgeries,needless medication advices to inflate bills, treatments purpose fully stretched... etc etc. It all happens.
"Please note India also has massive corruption in private set ups. Pointless tests, surgeries,needless medication advices to inflate bills, treatments purpose fully stretched... etc etc. It all happens."
- It will always happen in any country - more so in poor countries like India. Even then its not so bad - you need to visit other countries to comment on a relative basis. This is way worse in a lot of other countries - including the US.
But there were other problems with HIV / AIDS treatment. Government ministers believing and promoting nonsense herbal "treatments" and attacking ARVs.
http://www.irinnews.org/report/93411/africa-the-crazy-things...
> "I am sure and I have evidence that someone who was [HIV] positive turned negative after prayers," she said. - Christine Ondoa, Uganda health minister
> Mbeki stirred controversy when he questioned the causal link between HIV and AIDS; in 2000 he set up a Presidential AIDS Advisory Panel, largely comprising AIDS denialists, to discuss how South Africa should deal with the crisis.
> Mbeki also evoked conspiracy theories by alleging that the US Central Intelligence Agency, working with large pharmaceutical companies, was part of a conspiracy to promote the view that HIV caused AIDS.
> According to the authors of a 2008 Harvard study, more than 330,000 lives were lost as a result of the delays in implementing a feasible and timely ARV treatment programme in South Africa.
> [Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, SA health minister 1999-2008] approach to HIV/AIDS drew widespread international condemnation, which came to a head following the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto, when she insisted that garlic, lemon and beetroot be displayed in South Africa's exhibition booth.
Not having the brand name pills doesn't mean people campaign for those meds. It leaves a vacuum for ruthless, evil, people to exploit sufferers.
Mathias Rath (Vitamins cure AIDs, ARVs don't do anything except kill people) http://www.irinnews.org/report/83497/south-africa-final-chap...
> The drug, known as Virol ZAPPER, was being sold in 37ml liquid doses, each costing about US$210; patients were advised to take 10 drops daily. It was being advertised on local radio and TV stations as a miracle cure for HIV. http://www.irinnews.org/report/94679/africa-snake-oil-salesm...