IMAGINE AN INDIA where everyone can access advanced and affordable healthcare, pop the latest pills made by Indian laboratories at Indian prices, and get their blood work or brain scans from diagnostics facilities that do not gouge them.
Wait! Don’t go away! We can work towards that vision over the next five years, given the rapid advances in healthcare, pharma and communications technologies and how the sector attracts foreign investment.
Today, Indian healthcare exists in two landscapes. In urban India, gleaming hospitals sprout every other day, and reputable government hospitals such as AIIMS New Delhi serve over 7,000 outpatients daily. The pharmaceutical industry has gained a name worldwide (and many companies have manufacturing facilities across the globe). Almost all the latest diagnostic tests are available in this India.
In the other landscape, basic healthcare is a dream: Primary health centres remain unmanned, snakebite victims give up the ghost under the local quack, and district government hospitals refer routine cases to medical colleges, which are supposed to be for tertiary care.
Can India improve healthcare? What should the new government I due in June this year prescribe?
ROAD MAP TO A HEALTHIER FUTURE
Rural India is not in the pink of health. The government says the doctor-patient ratio is 1:847, which means one doctor for every 847 people. This looks better than the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 1:1000, but the Indian ratio factors in 565,000 AYUSH doctors apart from the 1.3 million or so allopathic doctors.
Indians also report an alarming 60% out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare, one of the highest globally, going by the World Bank’s numbers. A surge in chronic diseases adds to the stress on the healthcare system.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"Do what's best for employees"
BEST ADVICE - PANKAJ JATHAR | CEO | NIIT LTD
Your Palate for 2025
What's in store for you in the New Year when you go out for a meal or a drink? We ask industry experts to predict F&B trends for 2025
"RBI'S STANCE SHOULD BE TO KEEP THE RUPEE MORE VOLATILE"
Axis Bank Chief Economist Neelkanth Mishra talks about the rupee, quantitative easing, the Trump impact, and more
"We should strive towards two non-zero GST rates"
Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, on further reforms in the economy, the Nehruvian era and its impact on policymaking, cash transfers, and more
A GENERATION MAROONED
This generation is creating new grammar for social and professional existence. They are reimagining the very concept of work, identity, and social belonging
A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY AND OPPORTUNITY
A look at the key trends that will redefine how content will be created, distributed, and consumed
Consciousness Shaping Consumption
India has a dynamic and discerning consumer base, whose consumption pattern is experiencing a significant transformation
THE NIFTY ELEPHANTS
The composition of the Nifty 50 index has undergone notable changes in the past 30 years, with only 11 companies consistently remaining in the index. It is expected to undergo further changes in 2025 with the entry of new-age companies like Zomato
REDEFINING THE DIGITAL AGE
For Bitcoin, its future lies not as a currency but as a cornerstone of the modern financial ecosystem
THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
As AI advances, so will its role in health insurance. In the future, it shall perform a variety of complex tasks, making it more accessible and aligned with individual needs
