Health Delivery System In India ✓ Solved

HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM IN INDIA

In the course project, India's health delivery system will be the country of choice. India is among the nations with the largest population globally where it has a population of over 1.3 billion people. The country has massive inequalities in the healthcare system between different states. However, its life expectancy has increased from 49.7 years in the 1970s to around 69.1 years by 2018.

The country's infant mortality rate has reduced from 74 in 100 individuals in 1995 to 37 in every 1000 births by 2015 (Shrivastava & Shrivastava, 2019). India has a mix of health care systems that include private and public health delivery systems. The private sectors are mainly centered in urban India and provide both tertiary and secondary health care services. The public health delivery systems in rural areas are developed based on the population. The health system is characterized by many differences in quality between urban and rural areas and the private and public sectors.

Despite its vast population, its health delivery system attracts vast medical tourists due to its low cost and high quality. India has a universal healthcare system administered at the state level. The country's public health systems are free for all Indian residents. In 2019, the country's expenditure on health was over $3 billion. Health is a priority in the country, and there is a five-year plan that helps determine every state spending priority (Putul et al., 2017).

In 1983, its parliament endorsed the national health policy that aims at providing universal healthcare. The country's constitution mandates every state with the duty of offering healthcare to the people. This paper looks at India's health delivery system to get an understanding that will help in further studies. I chose India as a country of focus because of some familiarity with the Indian health delivery system. Thus, I would like to get a deeper understanding and knowledge of the country's health system.

It also provides a good example that will help to understand the differences and similarities between India and the US. The two countries will be an ideal example as they provide an appropriate comparison in the health delivery system, offering insights into how health care is performing between a developing and an industrialized country.

Paper For Above Instructions

India's health delivery system presents an intricate landscape shaped by cultural, economic, and social dynamics. As a country with the second-largest population in the world, the health system faces immense challenges yet exhibits remarkable strengths. The health delivery framework in India can be broadly categorized into public and private sectors, each catering to different segments of the population and presenting its unique characteristics and challenges.

One notable aspect of India's healthcare system is the pronounced urban-rural divide. Urban centers often boast better healthcare facilities, advanced technology, and a plethora of healthcare professionals compared to their rural counterparts. Consequently, rural populations are often underserved, lacking access to quality healthcare services. This disparity has led to significant health outcomes that reflect inequities, such as higher maternal and infant mortality rates in rural areas compared to urban ones (Kumar et al., 2020).

The dual health system—public and private—complicates the overall healthcare landscape. The public health system aims to provide universal healthcare access, yet many individuals are forced to turn to private healthcare due to the deficiencies encountered in public facilities, such as long wait times and limited resources. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), only 38% of the rural population in India has immediate access to a public healthcare facility (World Health Organization, 2018). Conversely, many private healthcare institutions charge exorbitant fees for services.

India's healthcare policies have evolved significantly since independence in 1947, with the introduction of various health initiatives aimed at improving the healthcare delivery system. The National Health Policy (NHP) of 2002 outlined a commitment towards achieving universal healthcare access and quality improvements. However, despite these efforts, implementation remains a challenge due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, and inadequate funding for health programs (Grover et al., 2019).

Medical tourism has emerged as a prominent sector within India's healthcare framework, with the country establishing itself as a hub for providing high-quality medical services at lower costs compared to Western countries. This influx of medical tourists has both positive and negative implications, as it can exacerbate existing disparities in healthcare access for local populations while contributing significantly to the economy (Mishra et al., 2020).

Moreover, India's healthcare system has historically been characterized by under-investment. Despite recent increases in health expenditure, which were reported to exceed $3 billion in 2019, healthcare expenditures as a percentage of GDP remain below the global average (Planning Commission of India, 2019). This underscores the urgent need for increased investment in health infrastructure, personnel, and services to meet the growing healthcare demands of the population.

Integrating traditional medicine systems, such as Ayurveda and Siddha, into the mainstream healthcare delivery system may offer significant benefits. A study by Shrivastava and Shrivastava (2019) emphasizes the importance of integrating AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) into healthcare policies to provide holistic care and promote preventive measures that align with the cultural practices of many individuals in India.

Furthermore, public health initiatives aimed at communicable diseases, maternal and child health, and non-communicable diseases have been introduced to tackle health challenges. Programs like the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and the National Health Mission (NHM) have shown varying degrees of success in reducing disease burden, yet continued efforts are necessary to combat endemic diseases and improve overall health outcomes (Jha et al., 2019).

In addition to governmental efforts, nonprofit organizations and NGOs play a crucial role in filling gaps in the healthcare system by providing services in underserved areas. These organizations often bring innovative solutions and community-oriented approaches that can make a meaningful difference in health delivery and outcomes.

In terms of future directions, India must prioritize strengthening its public healthcare system, ensuring that it can handle the demands of its rapidly growing population. This includes expanding access to healthcare services in rural areas, increasing healthcare funding, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of care offered by both public and private sectors. Additionally, fostering public-private collaborations can lead to more comprehensive, inclusive healthcare solutions (Balarajan et al., 2021).

References

• Balarajan, Y., Selvaraj, S., & Subramanian, S. V. (2021). Health care and equity in India. The Lancet, 388(10049), 1532-1540.
• Grover, A., & Yadav, J. (2019). Governmental Health Policy in India: Critical Evaluation and Future Directions. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 8(7), 410-415.
• Jha, P., Kuper, H., & Nandi, A. (2019). Health, health systems, and the health of communities in India: the role of the health workforce. Health Policy and Planning, 34(5), 326-334.
• Kumar, A., & Singh, A. (2020). Inequalities in healthcare access and utilization in India: A review of the evidence. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 50.
• Mishra, A., & Choudhury, A. (2020). Medical tourism in India: Opportunities and challenges. Indian Journal of Public Health, 64(1), 44-48.
• Planning Commission of India. (2019). Health System in India: Opportunities and Challenges. Government of India.
• Putul, M., Kahua, T. D., Jayanta, T., & Shobana, M. (2017). Clinical Establishments Act to Check Quality of Health-care Delivery System in India. Indian Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 15(3), 51-54.
• Shrivastava, S. R., & Shrivastava, P. (2019). Integrating AYUSH in the healthcare delivery system of India. Cukurova Medical Journal, 44(4), 285-290.
• World Health Organization. (2018). WHO Country Cooperation Strategy: India. World Health Organization.