HEALTHCARE IN INDIA
HEALTHCARE FINANCING
Government Spending:
- The Health Ministry has been allocated ₹90,958.63 crore in the 2024-2025 budget, an increase from ₹80,517.62 crore in the 2023-24 revised estimates.
- Government health expenditure in India increased to 1.9% of GDP in 2023-24, up from 1.28% in 2018-19, as per the Economic Survey 2023-24.
- India spends about 1.3% to 1.9% of its GDP on public healthcare, which is far below the global average.
BUDGETARY ALLOCATION
For the fiscal year 2024-25, the budget has increased the allocation for the National Health Mission (NHM) by approximately Rs 4,000 crore, raising the total from Rs 31,550 crore to Rs 36,000 crore. This increase aims to:
- Strengthen primary and secondary healthcare: NHM plays a pivotal role in providing accessible healthcare across rural and urban areas.
- Reduce out-of-pocket expenditure: By focusing on preventive and curative healthcare, the initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens on the public, particularly in underserved areas.
HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE
India’s healthcare infrastructure is underdeveloped, especially in rural areas, contributing
to poor healthcare outcomes.
- Hospitals and Clinics: Most hospitals and medical colleges are concentrated in urban Rural areas have fewer hospitals, and many are inadequately equipped.
- Rural-Urban Disparity: Approximately 70% of India’s population lives in rural areas, but less than 40% of healthcare infrastructure is in these regions. There are fewer doctors and nurses in rural areas, and most healthcare professionals are located in urban centers.
Challenges:
- Inadequate sanitation, unreliable electricity, and poor infrastructure in remote areas lead to ineffective healthcare delivery.
- Long waiting times for treatment at public hospitals in cities further exacerbates the healthcare burden.
HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE
India faces a severe shortage of trained healthcare professionals:
- Doctors and Nurses: doctor-population ratio in the country is around 1:836 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000. But The number of nurses is also insufficient to meet demand, particularly in rural areas.
- Rural vs Urban Disparity: Most healthcare professionals prefer to work in urban areas, leaving rural areas severely underserved. This results in a brain drain, where the most talented healthcare workers are drawn to cities and abroad.
HEALTHCARE INDICATORS
India has made progress in improving health outcomes, but challenges remain:
- Life Expectancy: As of 2024, life expectancy in India is around 67.7 years according to data from the World Bank, which indicates the average lifespan of a newborn child in India is currently estimated at 67.7 years.
- Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): India has made significant progress in reducing its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) from 384 in 2000 to 103 in 2020. However, it still lags behind many other countries.
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): India’s infant mortality rate (IMR) in 2024 is 25.799 deaths per 1,000 live births, a 3.08% decline from 2023.
CHALLENGES IN HEALTHCARE SERVICES DELIVERY
Access and Inequality:
- The divide between urban and rural healthcare is the biggest challenge. Rural areas face long distances, high costs, and poor quality of care. Economic inequality also leads to a divide in access to healthcare between rich and poor.
Quality of Care:
- The quality of care in government hospitals is often subpar due to lack of resources, overcrowding, and outdated infrastructure. Meanwhile, private hospitals offer better quality but are often out of reach for lower-income groups.
Financial Barriers:
- Out-of-pocket spending remains high for the middle class, despite the government’s efforts to provide health coverage. Ayushman Bharat and other schemes are improving coverage, but affordability remains an issue for large sections of the population.
Workforce Issues:
- Shortage of trained professionals in rural areas is a critical barrier. The government has made efforts to address this with incentives and training programs, but it is still insufficient.
Infrastructure Gaps:
- Rural healthcare facilities lack essential equipment, and many remote areas do not have access to reliable health services. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the system’s weaknesses in terms of preparedness and the lack of effective healthcare infrastructure.
FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN INDIA
Government Policies and Initiatives:
- National Health Policy 2017 outlines a vision for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and aims to strengthen the healthcare system. This policy encourages preventive care, improving health services, and increasing the availability of healthcare workers.
- Ayushman Bharat 2.0: The government plans to expand insurance schemes further and strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots level. There is a push for better infrastructure and enhanced medical facilities.
Telemedicine and Digital Health:
- The role of telemedicine and digital health is increasing, especially post-COVID-19. E-health records, mobile apps, and teleconsultations have made healthcare services more accessible, especially in remote areas.
Technological Advancements:
- AI and Machine Learning are transforming healthcare by helping doctors make accurate diagnoses and predicting disease outcomes.
- Digital Health Infrastructure: Investments in electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine, and online consultations are helping to improve healthcare accessibility and reduce patient waiting times.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- Improving Access: Expand healthcare facilities in rural areas and strengthen transportation infrastructure to make healthcare more accessible.
- Enhancing Quality: Standardize healthcare quality across both public and private sectors. Provide incentives for healthcare professionals to work in rural areas.
- Increasing Financing: Increase government spending on healthcare, encourage public-private partnerships, and expand health insurance coverage.
- Focus on Preventive Care: Increase focus on prevention, including vaccination, anti-smoking campaigns, and lifestyle disease management.
- Promote Digital Healthcare: Invest in telemedicine and mobile health apps to improve access and healthcare delivery, especially in remote regions.
Note: Connect with Vajirao & Reddy Institute to keep yourself updated with latest UPSC Current Affairs in English.
Note: We upload Current Affairs Except Sunday.
