Q17. In a crucial domain like the public healthcare system the Indian State should play a vital role to contain the adverse impact of marketisation of the system. Suggest some measures through which the State can enhance the reach of public healthcare at the grassroots level. (Answer in 250 words)
Kartavya Desk Staff
Introduction:
India’s healthcare system is a vast and intricate network, juggling public and private facilities to serve its massive population. While the private sector shoulders a substantial burden of delivering care, recent incidents like the fire at a Delhi Nursing home highlights a critical issue in India’s healthcare system: the failure of health-care regulations.
Body:
Adverse Impacts of Marketization of Healthcare System
• Inequitable Access to Care: Marketization often leads to a two-tier healthcare system where wealthier individuals can access high-quality care, while low-income populations face significant barriers, resulting in inequitable health outcomes.
• Marketization often leads to a two-tier healthcare system where wealthier individuals can access high-quality care, while low-income populations face significant barriers, resulting in inequitable health outcomes.
• Increased Healthcare Costs: The focus on profit can drive up the cost of healthcare services, making them unaffordable for many. This can lead to increased out-of-pocket expenses, pushing vulnerable populations into financial distress.
• The focus on profit can drive up the cost of healthcare services, making them unaffordable for many. This can lead to increased out-of-pocket expenses, pushing vulnerable populations into financial distress.
• Reduction in Quality of Care Market forces may prioritize profit over patient care, resulting in the over-prescription of treatments, unnecessary procedures, or reduced patient interaction time, ultimately compromising quality.
• Market forces may prioritize profit over patient care, resulting in the over-prescription of treatments, unnecessary procedures, or reduced patient interaction time, ultimately compromising quality.
• Neglect of Preventive Care Market-oriented systems often emphasize curative services rather than preventive measures, leading to higher incidences of chronic diseases and increased long-term healthcare costs.
• Market-oriented systems often emphasize curative services rather than preventive measures, leading to higher incidences of chronic diseases and increased long-term healthcare costs.
Measures to Enhance Public Healthcare Reach:
• Strengthening Primary Healthcare Infrastructure: Increase the number of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Community Health Centers (CHCs) in rural and underserved urban areas. Example: The Ayushman Bharat scheme aims to strengthen PHCs by providing essential health services, ensuring basic healthcare access for rural populations.
• Example: The Ayushman Bharat scheme aims to strengthen PHCs by providing essential health services, ensuring basic healthcare access for rural populations.
• Recruiting and Training Healthcare Workforce: Address shortages by recruiting more doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, especially in rural areas. Example: Initiatives like the National Health Mission (NHM) provide incentives for healthcare workers to serve in remote locations.
• Example: Initiatives like the National Health Mission (NHM) provide incentives for healthcare workers to serve in remote locations.
• Enhancing Health Awareness and Education: Implement health education campaigns to raise awareness about preventive healthcare, maternal health, and nutrition. Example: The “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” has improved sanitation awareness, indirectly promoting better health outcomes.
• Example: The “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” has improved sanitation awareness, indirectly promoting better health outcomes.
• Strengthening Health Financing: Expand health insurance schemes to cover all citizens, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare services. Example: The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) provides health insurance coverage for economically vulnerable populations.
• Example: The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) provides health insurance coverage for economically vulnerable populations.
• Integrating Traditional and Modern Healthcare: Utilizing AYUSH Systems: Promote the integration of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) into the public healthcare framework, providing holistic healthcare options. Example: The Ministry of AYUSH has established wellness centers that integrate traditional practices with modern healthcare.
• Example: The Ministry of AYUSH has established wellness centers that integrate traditional practices with modern healthcare.
• Implementing Telemedicine Solutions: Leverage technology to provide telehealth services, especially in remote areas, to bridge the gap in healthcare access.
• Leverage technology to provide telehealth services, especially in remote areas, to bridge the gap in healthcare access.
• Community Participation and Engagement: Involve community members in decision-making processes regarding local health services to ensure that needs are met effectively. Example: The formation of Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) has enabled local oversight of health initiatives.
• Example: The formation of Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) has enabled local oversight of health initiatives.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Systems: Establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of healthcare programs and identify areas for improvement. Example: The National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) collects data on healthcare services, helping policymakers make informed decisions.
• Example: The National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) collects data on healthcare services, helping policymakers make informed decisions.
Conclusion:
UHC is based on the principle that good health is a fundamental human right and a key component of sustainable development. Aayushman Bharat Mission of the Government of India is a positive step in this regard. India has already taken several steps like National Health Policy 2017, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna, and recent steps to incentivise the private sector to open hospitals towards Universal Health Coverage.