Amartya Sen says ‘Ayushman Bharat Yojna neglects primary healthcare, sector needs radical change’  

Amartya Sen.

Nobel laureate and eminent economist Amartya Sen, on Wednesday, said the idea that giving cash to people can help the economy grow misses out on the fact that real economy needs healthy and educated people who can drive growth. He also stated that the government needs to pursue health and education efforts in order to build opportunity for capable people.

At a book-launch event in New Delhi, Sen said, “The Ayushman Bharat Yojna announced by the government does not help in boosting primary healthcare capabilities. He further added that both the BJP and UPA government had neglected primary healthcare, and now the new scheme aims at the wrong population and is not incentive compatible. … What India needed was a radical change of primary healthcare.”

With a bit of sarcasm, the noted economist criticized the government’s penchant for policies aimed at producing “magic” that can boost economy.

He said, “What you have in the government is the great belief in magic.”

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