My vision on healthcare and beyond

The world is gradually emerging from the dark cloud of Covid. While it is true that some countries in Europe, China, and some other parts of the world are seeing a resurgence of this evil scourge but India has not seen any such rise. While it is a happy situation, the government is still tentative in its approach to lift all curbs that have been imposed, and some states in our country have lifted their directive on wearing of mask. But the medical fraternity has indicated that caution should be the watchword. There are indications that there are new strains in the air but so far there is no spread in India.

The healthcare system in India rose to the challenge of Covid and this disease has left bare the shortfalls in our system, which the nation as a whole has corrected collectively. This was based on the quick reaction and energetic implementation of protocols both by the GOI and also the GOM. Mumbai led by example as the disease was very well controlled in the largest slum of Asia – Dharavi.

Unlike in the past, India will, in the future, ensure that oxygen shortage does not occur if there is another pandemic. The government was quick to launch the PSA (pressure swing adsorption) oxygen generators throughout the length and breadth of the country. This move to a very large extent mitigated the oxygen deficiency in the country, and has also certainly assured that the country will not be bereft of this essential medical commodity.

Along with tackling Covid, there has been a gradual improvement in the processes and systems in the healthcare sector. Because of the focus upon the district level hospitals by the government, there was a small but significant reduction in the material and perinatal mortality. This augurs well for India. We are languishing at the bottom of the pile. There is an indication that with the focus on secondary level of care, these statistics are set to improve.

The government has indicated it is keen on private-public partnership models, which have not yet gained the critical mass to be an important instrument in ramping up the reach of healthcare to the districts as well as the mofussil. It is vital that the delivery of high-end secondary level of care reaches the district level. If we achieve this, we will be able to ensure that a large number of people in the rural areas can access good level of secondary-level healthcare.

Medical colleges, if set up in rural areas, will also have to happen as that would essentially entail building of a large hospital. It is when there is a college and attached hospital that teaching staff and students can be attracted to come and work, study, implement a high level of care at the district or even its outlying catchment area. These strategies will certainly help to promote Indian healthcare and ensure that maximum number of people have available and accessible healthcare.

This model, if followed with vigor, will ensure that the Indian healthcare system gets rated as one of the best in the world. In my opinion it is already one of the best in the world.

Also I do feel that the government has come to realize for its initiative of having a five-trillion economy, it must have a healthy nation. The nation does not mean metros alone; it means that healthcare must reach the village level. This healthcare will have to be at a high secondary level of care and that itself will cover most of the problems of maternal and infant mortality.

I feel that the government’s participation in spend in the healthcare has to be beefed up considerably. It cannot leave the private players the main contributors to the country’s health.

Thus if the miniscule contribution today increases to at least 3 percent to 4 percent of the country’s GDP from the government and another 2 percent to 3 percent comes from the private players, then India is headed to be one of the most healthy nations in the world.

It is my belief that such a direction is slowly taking shape and will get implemented in the next 5 years, and that will give the critical mass of the Indian healthcare to roll and be recognized as the leading healthcare system in the world to be emulated by the rest.

There is already a thought process for the international community to recognize the Indian medical degree. This is again going to be a game changer. The world will want the Indian doctor for his superior clinical acumen, compassion, and technical brilliance. The country will produce more doctors. While there is a clear danger of them going overseas, it is my vision that as the country grows and there is economic prosperity, the brain drain will be miniscule.