Sambhav-2025

Approach Briefly introduce the importance of healthcare in India’s socio-economic development Explain the need for universal access, preventive care, and digital health solutions in Indian healthcare. Substantiate points with some data and facts. Conclude suitably.

Introduction

India, with a population of 1.4 billion, faces significant healthcare challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), and rural-urban disparities. To ensure comprehensive healthcare, India must focus on universal access, preventive care, and digital health solutions to bridge healthcare inequalities.

Body

Ensuring Universal Healthcare Access

• Need:
  • Infrastructure Gaps: 75% of healthcare facilities are in urban areas, while 65% of Indians live in rural regions.
  • Limited Funding and Resources: Despite being the world's fifth-largest economy, India's healthcare expenditure stands at a mere 2.1% of GDP for FY23, significantly lower than the 5-12.5% typically spent by most countries.
  • Doctor Shortage: India has 1 doctor per 1,511 people in 2022. (WHO norm: 1:1,000).
  • Dependence on Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: The NHA estimates that 39.4% of total health expenditures in India are out-of-pocket, placing a significant financial burden on families
• Government Initiatives:
  • Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY: Provides ₹5 lakh insurance coverage to 10 crore vulnerable families.
  • Health & Wellness Centers (HWCs): Aim to strengthen primary healthcare services across India.
  • National Urban Health Mission (NUHM): Focuses on urban slum populations.
• Steps Ahead: Increase government healthcare spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, with a strong focus on bolstering primary healthcare infrastructure and services at the community level, as outlined in the National Health Policy 2017.

Strengthening Preventive Healthcare

• Need:
  • Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension cause 63% of deaths.
  • Poor sanitation and malnutrition lead to high infant and maternal mortality rates.
• Government Efforts:
  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA): Reduced waterborne diseases through improved sanitation.
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan: Tackles malnutrition and stunting in children.
  • Mission Indradhanush: Expanded immunization coverage across India.
• Steps Ahead: Promote mass awareness campaigns, expand screening for NCDs, and integrate traditional medicine (AYUSH) into primary care.

Leveraging Digital Health Solutions

• Need:
  • Telemedicine: Bridges the rural-urban gap by enabling remote specialist consultations.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): Helps in early disease detection and diagnosis.
  • National Digital Health Mission (NDHM): Establishes electronic health records for seamless patient care.
• Government Initiatives:
  • e-Sanjeevani: Facilitated 1.4 crore teleconsultations (2023), improving access in remote areas.
  • CoWIN Platform: Ensured efficient COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Conclusion

India's healthcare future lies in universal access, preventive care, and digital innovation, transforming health into a pillar of national progress. By increasing public health spending and bridging rural-urban gaps, India can build a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready healthcare system.