Health Insurance Is The Way Forward
The healthcare market in India is growing at a phenomenal rate. Statistically, the hospital industry in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16–17 percent to reach Rs 8.6 trillion (USD 132.84 billion) by FY22 from Rs 4 trillion (USD 61.79 billion) in FY17 (source: ibef). Not only does India cater for the health of its own people, but it is also a destination for international markets. India is the preferred destination for many developing countries in the globe.
On budgetary allocation in healthcare
We have always been disappointed in the budgetary allocations for healthcare; the percentage of GDP spent on healthcare has been very low. This year Rs. 69,000 crores have been allocated for the healthcare sector, which has been a little better but there is still a lot more that can be achieved.
On vision for health and family welfare
Our vision is to provide high-quality, accountable, and affordable healthcare to the middle-class population of India. While this is our vision, but for the nation, it is important that the rural part of the country is also addressed. The challenges we have faced in this journey have been high levels of attrition, lack of skilled manpower, difficulties in terms of costs, and a growing litigation-oriented population
On monitoring the quality of private healthcare
It is an urgent and important requirement; quality needs to be maintained and demonstrated because that’s the way we can be sure we are doing the best for our people. Many organizations have embarked on this important aspect, e.g., NATHEALTH is evolving this, through its group of members assigned to track quality. One must understand that this is not a short journey but a long one. But a start is extremely important and the sooner it happens, the better it is.
On public-private partnership in making healthcare a success
For the rural population, and the people in the Tier-II and Tier-III cities, this is indeed important. However, the trust deficit that currently exists between the government and the private players, which certainly has narrowed in certain situations, continues to play swift and efficient implementation of PPP.
On areas where government should invest to make healthcare available to everyone on the go
Health insurance is the way forward. Financing the healthcare needs of our country is a massive requirement; however, there is no way in which the government infrastructure could provide itself as the provider of healthcare for the nation. Therefore, it is important that healthcare is financed by the government through insurance or other such agencies and there is a combined effort of the government and private players to provide the necessary hospitals and healthcare necessities to deliver this.
On the policy interv entions that the healthcare sector in the state need to align with the healthcare objectives at large at the national level
I think, this has been adequately addressed in Karnataka.
