Economic Reforms, Health and Pharmaceuticals-Conferring Legitimacy to the Market

Conferring Legitimacy to the Market Reforms in Health Care STRUCTURAL adjustment policies were introduced in this country in 1991 by the previous Congress government. These policies sought to by way of fiscal austerity measures cut government spending and subsidies in social sectors, reduce direct taxes, increase administered prices, liberalise trade by reducing tariff rates and providing other incentives for foreign investments, privatise public enterprises, deregulate the labour market, etc. The policies were designed to clear the path for withdrawal of the state from the social and welfare sectors like health, education, public distribution system, etc. These policies use 'free market' ideology as the guiding principle, and are designed to place the 'market' in a central position of dominance, where it would act as the principal, if not sole, arbitrator of all processes. At a global level such a position is extended to encompass the concept of 'free trade' a concept that has been captured in its full essence by the GATT treaty of