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The socio-economic structure in India is so complex, that simple
measures such as health insurence, expansion of private healthcare may not
be the answer to the present problems. In a recent survey in India
(Conducted by Outlook Magazine), one in four families who need in-hospital
treatment have to pay for it by selling one or more of their assets. The
same survey also has shown that one in three families of patient
undergoing in-hospital treatment for a major surgery, descend below the
poverty line as the result of hospital expenses.
Expansion in the bed capacity in private health-care system is a
welcome change, but it does limit the benefit to the higher socio-economic
class which forms less than 10% of the indian population. What the health
care system needs in India is a total overhaul. It needs a basic
infrastructure of health awareness and preventive medicine. That network
can be created through minimum training. These paramedical workers can be
working at village level and home health setups to create awareness about
healthy living and prvention of infection. They can also be incorporated
in the local-self-government bodies.
This needs to be accompanied by a strict regulatory authority at the
level of small towns and cities to check on the erratic and often
unethical practices adopted by certain doctors and small private
healthcare providers. They also should be encouraged to share their
income, gadgetory and expertise with the local primary care or secondory
care health units run by the government.
The tertiary care private health care providers should be in some way
enforced to treat certain number of patints waiting in governmemt hospital
free of charge,in return for some subsidies provided by the government.
The expertise available with the private health care providers in the form
of specially trained doctors or the health managers should be utilised by
the government to reset the government and teaching hospital setups. This
form of mutual interactions in both the sectors is probably the only way
forward in achieving any reforms in the health care in India.
Dear Sir
(1)Soft Loans and tax benefits to corporate hospitals means more profit to
providers of tertiary care,aimed at local wealthy or attracting " health
torists"
(2)Govt. help to rural and semiurban poor means money to politicians and
officials who will certify poverty.
(3)The need is simple measures like hygiene and sanitation
These steps will go a long way towards providing better care at the
poin of need.
Govt. steps will breed greed
Thanking you, Yours sincerely,
l g shah
Competing interests:
The respondent is Primary health care provider
Private healthcare: Has it got a role in India's health care reforms?
The socio-economic structure in India is so complex, that simple
measures such as health insurence, expansion of private healthcare may not
be the answer to the present problems. In a recent survey in India
(Conducted by Outlook Magazine), one in four families who need in-hospital
treatment have to pay for it by selling one or more of their assets. The
same survey also has shown that one in three families of patient
undergoing in-hospital treatment for a major surgery, descend below the
poverty line as the result of hospital expenses.
Expansion in the bed capacity in private health-care system is a
welcome change, but it does limit the benefit to the higher socio-economic
class which forms less than 10% of the indian population. What the health
care system needs in India is a total overhaul. It needs a basic
infrastructure of health awareness and preventive medicine. That network
can be created through minimum training. These paramedical workers can be
working at village level and home health setups to create awareness about
healthy living and prvention of infection. They can also be incorporated
in the local-self-government bodies.
This needs to be accompanied by a strict regulatory authority at the
level of small towns and cities to check on the erratic and often
unethical practices adopted by certain doctors and small private
healthcare providers. They also should be encouraged to share their
income, gadgetory and expertise with the local primary care or secondory
care health units run by the government.
The tertiary care private health care providers should be in some way
enforced to treat certain number of patints waiting in governmemt hospital
free of charge,in return for some subsidies provided by the government.
The expertise available with the private health care providers in the form
of specially trained doctors or the health managers should be utilised by
the government to reset the government and teaching hospital setups. This
form of mutual interactions in both the sectors is probably the only way
forward in achieving any reforms in the health care in India.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests