India’s economy is posting among the fastest growth rates globally
Without Aarogya Bharat, the benefits from faster growth will be seriously compromised.
Morbidity cost to India:
- Is estimated at $6 trillion between now and 2030
- Three times today’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Public health spending
- Around 1% (1.2 %)of GDP while overall
- The country spends over 4% (~3.9%)~
Health system is geared towards secondary and tertiary care.
Primary care, which is significantly less costly, is unorganized and largely not covered by insurance.
Pathetic Situation
- Out of pocket expenditure is health in nearly 60% of health expenditure, three times the global average.
- Insurance penetration is just 25% overall.
- short of 2 million beds and doctors and 4 million nurses.
- Urban India accounts for around 30% of the population but has 80% of healthcare infrastructure.
- The average Indian’s life expectancy is only 66 years versus 75 in China and 74 in Brazil.
- Some states such as Kerala, where outcomes are five times better today, learning can be taken from there and from international best practices.
Points to focus:
- Increase health care spending from 1% of GDP to atleast 2.5–3%.
- Focus on 100% vaccination.
- Government, nongovernment and the private sector—must declare war on NCDs.
- Citizens must be supported with universal health insurance for primary care.
- Improve healthcare quality. The way ahead is through institutionalizing minimum standards for healthcare.
- unleash technology to increase access and affordability. Example are Swasthya Slate and 3nethra.
- Telehealth can expand reach and help scale scarce clinical talent, while mobile health can engage the population and improve adherence.
- The private sector should also be key in enhancing the effectiveness of public infrastructure via public-private partnerships.
