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A good healthcare system is considered to be the steel frame of a country's and its people's well being.
India being home to more than 136 crores people requires a wide-reaching healthcare system. But this also means that there's a large population available to serve the needs of the people. Then it becomes the responsibility of the government to ensure adequate and accessible health care to all its people and not just in the cities.
So the question arises how much is the Indian healthcare system accessible and affordable to its citizens.
Further, With the advent of the Novel coronavirus, has not only exposed the shortcomings of the health care system but suffered an enormous strain.
India ranked 145 among 195 countries in terms of quality and accessibility of healthcare, behind its neighbours China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan as of 2018.
This data shows the reality of the Indian healthcare system even before being hit by the pandemic
Challenges faced by the Indian healthcare system
Lack of Access: The basic healthcare facilities are not accessible and even if it is physically accessible what is the quality it offers? And is that care available continuously?
Lack of medical staff/healthcare workers: the limited number of healthcare workers poses challenges to serve the need of such a large population.
Affordability/ cost of healthcare: Several governmental hospitals are providing basic facilities to the people but is considered unreliable. Why? Because of low and indifferent quality provided at low or no cost.
Private sector or Private hospitals in India dominates the healthcare system and is generally the first choice but due to the high amount charged for its facilities, most of its people either are unable to pay such a hefty amount or spend their life savings on it.
The reliable government hospitals are not easily accessible hence a major number of the population are compelled to take what's available.
Lack of accountability: The Indian government must ensure that pharmaceutical and medical firms are accountable to transparency.
Few steps taken by the Indian Government :
The National Health Protection Scheme is established by subsuming various schemes like
* Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana,
* Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme,
* Central Government Health Scheme,
* State Insurance Scheme for Employees, etc.
2. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a flagship programme of the Indian Government's National Health Plan aimed at providing free secondary and tertiary health coverage to its lowest 40% poorest and most vulnerable population.
This programme is the world's largest and government-sponsored health insurance programme covering a population of the cumulative size of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Way Forward
Public spending on health has to increase drastically, especially in a country where the vast majority rely on public institutions for medical needs.
India already has one of the highest out-of-pocket expenditures, 78%, for healthcare. Further, the system must have accountability, with a role for the local government in the supervision of hospitals.
Reasonable Pricing and subsidized medicines and medical technology
Availability of modern medical technology and equipment at governments hospitals.
CONCLUSION
There is an urgent need for reform in the healthcare sector. The government has to focus on every segment of society to provide affordable and qualitative healthcare to all. the government has to increase its spending on healthcare. In this time of the Pandemic outbreak, one can easily see and observe that there is a lot of scope and requirements to improve the health care sector.
