PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

INDIAN HEALTHCARE
WHAT CAN BE DONE

Tax-funded

Incentivize

Pursue substantive

Encourage

universal

preventive care by

public-private

state

coverage, as

setting up more

partnerships with

governments to

opposed to

robust primary-care

trustworthy private

function as

contributory or

facilities, especially

actors, be supported

laboratories to

subsidized private

in underserved rural

by a stronger

produce better

insurance schemes

areas

regulatory framework

outcomes.

THE TWIN PROBLEM

A public health system that is

Unregulated private- sector that

almost entirely free but of poor

provides world-class service to some

quality if it is accessible. High

but charges ruinous prices, dispenses

rates of infectious diseases

inappropriate or unnecessary care,

compete with a large and

and is riddled with practitioners with

growing burden of chronic illness.

little or no formal training.

India has to double its funding for public health programmes to at least 2.5% of
gross domestic product (GDP). Financed by general taxation, the additional
resources should be used to strengthen the delivery of primary healthcare, improve
the quality of services, and promote more equitable access, especially for poor and
marginalized communities. Universal health coverage through public assurance of
comprehensive quality primary care for all.

SHORTCOMINGS OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

Facilities tend to be

Severe shortage of

Complaints are common

understaffed,

doctors, nurses and

about distant locations,

underfunded and

midwives is made worse by

inconvenient hours, high

terribly managed.

big geographical gaps in

staff absenteeism and the

The better ones tend

availability. Rural areas are

insensitivity of many health

to be overcrowded

especially poorly served

workers

SHORTCOMINGS OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS

Governments failure led to a rapid expansion of the private sector, which today
accounts for 93% of hospitals (up from 8% in 1947), 64% of beds, & 80% of doctors

Unevenly distributed,
highly fragmented,&
mostly unregulated.
Fluctuates wildly in
quality Quacks to
world-class hospitals

Informational
asymmetry makes pvt.
markets inefficient
Costs in general
tend to be
unreasonably high

Thisinfographicsisadaptedfromthearticle"FixingIndias
healthcaresystem"appearinginTheMinton13thMay2014

Overdiagnosis and
overtreatment
common, as is
faulty treatment
Sell substandard
and counterfeit
medicines
INFOGRAPHICS

Indian Healthcare
THE GOOD AND THE BAD

LIFE EXPECTANCY

NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

Doubled since independence, to

65 years, from just 32 in 1950.

Cardiovascular disease has a major

cause of morbidity and mortality,
more than a million die a year from
smoking, nearly 65 million have
diabetes. Mental illness and
occupational health and safety
is neglected

INFANT MORTALITY
The current national IMR is 37
in comparison to 115 in 1961

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
ERADICATED
Smallpox, Guinea Worm and
Polio have been eradicated

In per capita terms adjusted

for purchasing power, Indias
public expenditure on health
is $43 a year, compared with
$85 in Sri Lanka, $240 in
China, and $265 in Thailand.

CONSTITUTIONAL

GDP %

The Constitution makes the

states responsible for the
provision and delivery of
health services, with the cost
shared by the states and the
central government (the
central government
contributes 36%).

India spends 1.2%, in comparison

to 1.5% in Sri Lanka, 2.7% in
China, and 3% in Thailand.

PRIVATISATION
The governments failure to
deliver quality care has led to
a rapid expansion of the
private sector, accounts for
93% of all hospitals (up from
8% in 1947), 64% of all beds,
and 80% to 85% of all doctors.

This infographics is adapted from the

article " Fixing Indias healthcare system"
appearing in The Mint on 13th May 2014

OUT OF POCKET
69% of total health
expenditure in India, Thailand
(25%), China (44%), and Sri
Lanka (55%). Millions are
driven into poverty every year
by large medical expenses.

GOVT. FACILITY
Only 22% in rural areas and
19% in urban areas use for
out-patient care. For inpatient
care, 42% in the villages and
38% in the cities

INFOGRAPHICS