Public and Private Health System in India
Chapter 1 Notes Social Pharmacy
1.1 Definition and Scope. 1.2 Role of Pharmacists in Public Health. 1.3 Concept of Health -WHO Definition,
1.4 Dimensions of health, 1.5 Determinants of health, 1.6 Indicators of health. 1.7 National Health Policy–Indian perspective 1.8 Public and Private Health System in India, 1.9 National Health Mission 1.10 Introduction to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 1.11 Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals 1.12 Introduction to FIP Development Goals.
Indeed, the Covid-19 crisis has implications for all. Firstly, private hospitals now realize how much more scope they have in expanding their services in India. How much additional revenue can they generate? That’s debatable and perhaps that is what will lead them to determine their “potential” serviceable market. They have also realised the terms they’d have to agree to if there is another emergency. This crisis will certainly change “business” terms for private healthcare providers, especially insurance companies, on how they operate.
Secondly, policymakers have also realized how much public health lags in India and how much more needs to be done. Probably they were always aware of it, but the crisis is a major jerk. There is certainly acknowledgement for it, the government recently announced a boost for public healthcare, it is however to be seen how much things change on the ground.
Thirdly, people now realize the demerits of having healthcare largely based on an “out-of-pocket” expenditure model. An average Indian just cannot access private healthcare that owns most of the infrastructure in India, even in case of an emergency. Will people then create political pressure on their elected representatives? A way to see this will be on how much space will upcoming election manifestos give to expenditure on healthcare and insurance.
Lastly, key decision-makers have probably also realized that it will take a long time before public healthcare in India becomes strong enough to independently deliver on its mandate. A way that the government could go about speeding up the process is by actioning its recent health policy and partnering with the private sector, instead of fighting it. Private healthcare, because of being a business unit, is highly efficient but not very equitable. The government needs to view private healthcare as a “business”, acknowledge its “business objectives” and fill in the gaps to make it equitable. In better incentivizing and enabling private healthcare to penetrate rural areas, the government could well capitalize on its “strategic purchasing” of private healthcare units plan and start delivering on its mandate.
The above content is resourced from Copyright: Arun SANKAR / AFP Private Healthcare in India: Boons and Banes
The health care system in India is universal. That being said, there is a great discrepancy in the quality and coverage of medical treatment in India. Healthcare between states and rural and urban areas can be vastly different. Rural areas often suffer from physician shortages, and disparities between states mean that residents of the poorest states, like Bihar, often have less access to adequate healthcare than residents of relatively more affluent states. State governments provide healthcare services and health education, while the central government offers administrative and technical services.
Lack of adequate coverage by the health care system in India means that many Indians turn to private healthcare providers, although this is an option generally inaccessible to the poor. To help pay for healthcare costs, insurance is available, often provided by employers, but most Indians lack health insurance, and out-of-pocket costs make up a large portion of the spending on medical treatment in India.
On the other hand, private hospitals in India offer world-class quality health care at a fraction of the price of hospitals in developed countries. This aspect of health care in India makes it a popular destination for medical tourists. India also is a top destination for medical tourists seeking alternative treatments, such as ayurvedic medicine. India is also a popular destination for students of alternative medicine.
Resource: Healthcare system in India
What is the difference between Public health services and Private health services?
| Public health services | Private health services |
| 1. The public health service is a chain of health centres and hospitals run by the government. | 1. Private health facilities are not owned or controlled by the government. |
| 2. It is meant to provide quality health care services either free or at a low cost so that even the poor can seek treatment. | 2. These services are run for profit; the cost of these services is rather high. |
| 3. Public health services in rural as well as in urban areas. | 3. Private health services are concentrated mainly in urban areas. |
| 4. Patients usually have to wait in long queues in public hospitals. | 4. People do not face such problems in private hospitals. |
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