The healthcare industry in India is currently at a unique point in history, the government is implementing most significant publicly funded healthcare plan in the world and simultaneously clamping down on prices of medical devices, even as foreign investments are flowing into the industry. Adding to the problem is the confusing way in which these contradictions contain intricacies that are intertwined; thus, an attempt must be made to unpack these paradoxes as an effort to resolve them.
The first very obvious inconsistency in the Indian healthcare system is that while access to health care is a fundamental right in India, which the government is responsible for availing to all its citizens, one of the essential aspects of healthcare — primary healthcare — is in shambles. There is only one primary healthcare center (often manned by one doctor) for more than 51,000 people in the country. The Indian government needs to increase investment in this sector.
The second paradox facing the Indian healthcare industry is that despite the massive inflow of resources from international and domestic private entities, the quality of healthcare has not seen an increase. A lack of penetration exaggerated billing, non-transparent in diagnosis, and subpar quality of service have ensured that Indians get treated below the standards prescribed by the World Health Organisation.
Healthcare in India is definitely ranked in the cheapest in the world – the cost of treatment in India is lower by two-thirds compared to the United States. Medical tourism makes up a significant section of GDP in the tourism sector. Healthcare, however, remains mostly unaffordable to the general public of the country since there are millions in India with a per capita income of fewer than 250 rupees a day.
Finally, there is a considerable disparity in the availability of healthcare relative to the demography of different parts of the country. While north India is most populated with high densities, it remains the most underserved area in the country when it comes to not just access but also the availability of healthcare facilities such as medicines, clinics, and hospitals.