A decision on the National Health Policy, which proposes "assured health services to all", was today deferred by the Union Cabinet for a second time in less than a month.
Sources in the government said the National Health Policy though was not part of the agenda of the Cabinet meeting, it was added at the last moment. But a decision on it was deferred, they said.
On February 15 too, a decision on the policy was deferred by the Cabinet.
The proposed National Health Policy, which has been pending for the past two years, aims to provide assured health services to people as an "entitlement".
The Cabinet note however had not talked about making health a "fundamental right" as it will have "legal consequences" but proposed assured health services.
Under the earlier draft National Health Policy, 2015, it was proposed the Centre will enact a National Health Rights Act, which will ensure health as a fundamental right and whose denial will be "justiciable".
The draft also addressed the issues of universal health coverage, reducing maternal and infant mortality rate, as well as making drugs and diagnostics available free at least in the public healthcare system of the country.
It suggests the Centre must amend laws to align them with the current healthcare scenario.
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