HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES: INDIA

HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES: INDIA

There is a need for “Universal Health Coverage-Everyone, Everywhere.”

Today, India is the most populous country of the world which presents an enormous diversity, and offers challenge to the healthcare delivery system. There are genuine challenges in delivering healthcare to the “everyone” which must include the socially disadvantaged, the economically challenged, and the systemically marginalized?

The Indian healthcare scenario presents a spectrum of contrasting landscapes. At one end of the spectrum are the high end medial facilities delivering high tech Medicare to the well-heeled, mostly urban Indian. At the other end are the ramshackle outposts in the remote reaches of the “other India” where even basic healthcare facilities are far behind in comparison.?

With the rapid growth in Economy and pace of change currently being witnessed, this situation is likely to widen further.

Let us discuss some of the major concerns ...

HEALTHCARE SPENDING

Inadequate Public Healthcare Spending: India's public expenditure on healthcare as a percentage of GDP is relatively low compared to many other countries. This limits the availability of funds for healthcare infrastructure development, public health programs, and access to essential medicines

What is encouraging is that efforts to enhance Public sector facilities in India. The number of public sectors like AIIMS is growing in India.

?India's total healthcare spending (out-of-pocket and public), at 3.6% of GDP, as per OECD, is way lower than that of other countries. The average for OECD countries in 2018 was 8.8% of GDP. Developed nations—the US (16.9%), Germany (11.2%), France (11.2%) and Japan (10.9%)

The huge population is a big obstacle in arranging modern healthcare for all. The Healthcare spending by the central and state governments' budgeted expenditure on healthcare touched?2.1 % of GDP in FY23

UNEQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE:

India's healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities, is often inadequate to meet the growing demands of its population. There is a shortage of healthcare centers, especially in rural areas, leading to unequal access to healthcare services

There is a significant disparity in healthcare access between rural and urban areas, as well as across different socio-economic groups. Rural areas often lack basic healthcare facilities, leading to limited access to quality healthcare services for a large portion of the population

AFFORDABILITY

The majority of healthcare expenses in India are borne out-of-pocket by individuals and families. This places a significant financial burden on households, especially those from low-income backgrounds, and can lead to delayed or inadequate treatment

It is common knowledge that the private sector is the dominant player in the healthcare arena in India. Almost 75% of healthcare expenditure comes from the pockets of households, and catastrophic healthcare cost is an important cause of impoverishment.

It’s not surprising that a majority of India is not able to afford the high cost healthcare. Despite availability of healthcare Insurance in India there is hardly a sizable population covered with Healthcare Insurance.

?If one look at the high cost of ICUs in India one may easily find that its beyond reach of most of India’s population. On an average it costs more than 60- 90 k per day. Most hospitals and medical professionals in private sector of India charge more than what the patients and their family can afford.

Shortage of Healthcare Professionals: India faces a shortage of trained healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and technicians. The doctor-patient ratio is significantly low, especially in rural areas. This shortage impacts the quality of healthcare services and leads to longer waiting times. The Government is trying to increase the number of healthcare education facilities to fil the gap but a lot needs to done.

Lack of Health Insurance Coverage: It is a well-known fact that a large proportion of the population in India does not have health insurance coverage. This further exacerbates the financial burden on individuals and limits their ability to access necessary healthcare services when they actually need it.

AYUSH – HEALTHCARE INSURANCE – The Government has introduced Ayush Health Care plan to include the marginalized section of the society. This is a good step but there is a need to increase awareness amongst those who can avail the benefits

?Communicable Diseases and Public Health Challenges: India faces the burden of communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria, and waterborne illnesses. The country also faces public health challenges related to sanitation, hygiene, and access to clean drinking water, which contribute to the spread of diseases

Recent Corona explosion has completely exposed the inability to handle any big Communicable disease but the good point is that India could manage to offer Health care solution with the help of both Public and Private sectors Health care service providers

Limited Focus on Preventive Healthcare: The Indian healthcare system often prioritizes curative care over preventive care. There is a need to shift focus towards preventive healthcare measures, such as health education, early detection, and vaccination programs, to reduce the burden of diseases.

Addressing these challenges requires sustained efforts from the government, healthcare providers, Private Healthcare Sectors and society as a whole. It involves improving healthcare infrastructure, increasing public healthcare spending, strengthening primary healthcare services, promoting health insurance coverage, enhancing medical education and training, and implementing effective public health interventions.

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