Context
As per a survey, it has been found that 80% of the public healthcare facilities are substandard.
About
- The government accomplished a survey in which public health facilities from states and UTs have been included under the National Health Mission (NHM).
- At present, over 2 lakh scientific facilities are covered under NHM.
- As per the report, 17,190 of the facilities that participated within the self-assessment exercising scored less than 50 percent while the rest, 15,172 facilities, scored between 50 to 80 percent, the report introduced.
- Only 8,089, which is almost 20 percent of the centers, scored 80 percent or higher which is needed to qualify as IPHS compliant.
- It has been determined that those facilities do not meet the bare minimal requirements of device, infrastructure and manpower with respect to government-set benchmarks.
Major Challenges Faced by Healthcare Sector in India
- Lack of infrastructure: India has been suffering with deficient infrastructure within the shape of lack of nicely-ready medical institutes.
- The government mandated that private scientific faculties ought to be constructed on at least five acres of land hence, they have been built in rural regions, in which there was a loss of correctly certified, full-time report due to living conditions, except low pay scales.
- There is an high shortage of skilled manpower, which includes reports, nurses, paramedics and number one healthcare employees.
- The medical doctor-to-affected person ratio stays low, that is merely 0.7 doctors per 1,000 people whereas the World Health Organisation (WHO) average is 2.5 medical doctors per 1,000 people.
- High out-of-pocket Expenditure: While public hospitals offer free fitness services, those facilities are understaffed, poorly equipped, and located especially in urban regions leaving no options however to access to private organisation and incurring high out-of-pocket expenses in healthcare.
- Disease Burden: High prevalence of communicable diseases (which includes tuberculosis) and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (like diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses) pose a twin assignment.
- Every year, 5.8 million Indians die from heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
- Lack of Diagnostic Services: The penetration of diagnostic services in India is specifically focused round metros and big cities.
Measures Needed
- Increase in Public Spending: India’s healthcare spending is three.6% of GDP, consisting of out-of-pocket and public expenditure.
- India spends the least among BRICS countries: Brazil spends the maximum (9.2%), followed by South Africa (8.1%), Russia (5.3%), China (5%).
- Infrastructure Development: Invest in building and upgrading healthcare infrastructure, which include hospitals, clinics, and research facilities.
- Research and Innovation: Foster a lifestyle of studies and innovation in healthcare. Provide incentives for pharmaceutical and biotech businesses to conduct studies and expand new treatments.
- Telemedicine and Digital Health: Promote using telemedicine and virtual fitness solutions to increase access to healthcare services, especially in rural regions.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Encourage collaborations between the government, private quarter, and non-income groups to leverage resources and knowledge.
Conclusion
- There is a need to undertake generation anyplace possible to streamline the operational and medical strategies for healthcare facilities in an effort to control efficient patient flow.
- Also there must be focus on preventive healthcare measures to lessen the load of diseases alongside stringent pleasant standards for healthcare services.
Source: The ToI
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. Health sector in India is faced with several issues. In light of this statement, discuss the challenges faced by the health sector in India. (150 Words)
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