By Dr Alexander Kuruvilla
Since independence, India has gone through a tremendous transformation in its healthcare journey. It starts right from the foundation of the Mudaliar Committee & Bhore Committee and their recommendations that played a significant role in shaping the healthcare policies and infrastructure in India.
These recommendations enabled the establishment of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and the development of secondary care and tertiary care hospitals in the country. Today, India’s healthcare system stands tall on this foundation.
The healthcare sector in India is a complex ecosystem with government, providers, pharmaceuticals and medical devices firms, each playing a significant role in developing the industry. According to industry reports, India’s healthcare sector was worth about 280 billion USD in 2020 and it was estimated to reach up to 372 billion USD by 2022.
And over the years several innovations have been introduced to address concerns of access, affordability and delivery of quality care across the country. For example, telemedicine and m-health initiatives by the government and private players have led to better reach and quality in health management while being highly cost-effective. And as we foray ahead in the healthcare journey evolution, we need to embrace technology if we have to effectively serve a population of 1.4 billion people in the country.
Embracing Technology and Strengthening Infrastructure
A robust healthcare infrastructure is essential for efficient and sustainable healthcare delivery. The main imperatives of the healthcare system are:
●increasing access and reach to its consumers
●increasing efficiency in service delivery
●improving quality care across affordability levels
With corporate hospitals, India has set benchmarks for exceptional tertiary care by incorporating advanced medical technology and infrastructure into healthcare services. But similar efforts need to be made in primary and secondary care facilities as well. While a lot of infrastructure, especially in secondary care is in place, focus needs to be on upgrading existing facilities and investing in medical equipment and supplies.
Moreover, enhancing the connectivity between healthcare facilities through telecommunication networks can facilitate the exchange of medical information and enable remote consultation and diagnosis. Additionally we need to leverage digital health solutions, such as telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), and health apps, to overcome geographical barriers and expand access to healthcare services. Government initiatives like Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) are steps in the right direction, with the set up of public digital infrastructure that will ensure greater inclusivity of quality healthcare services.
Promoting Preventive Care
There is also a growing burden of chronic diseases in India, a recent report showcased that 11.4 per cent of Indians are diabetic and 35.5 per cent suffer from hypertension. Additionally abdominal obesity stands at 40 per cent across the population. If corrective action is not taken, this will skyrocket healthcare costs in India in the near future. There is an urgent need to move beyond curative clinical practice and to embrace prevention, wellness and holistic care for the long-term sustainability of India’s healthcare system.
Efforts should be made to create awareness about healthy lifestyle choices, including proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management. And new age healthcare models that integrate the physical and digital realms have to be utilised to optimise the efficiency of the current ecosystem and provide patients with timely and quality care.
By embracing technology, healthcare systems can use a data-driven approach to offer personalised and patient-centric care. For example, data from sensors, medical instruments, trackers and wearable devices can be valuable to physicians in ensuring better quality care and positive patient outcomes.
India is known across the globe for the best healthcare professionals and is even termed as the pharmacy of the world for its capability of providing global standard medicines across the globe. We have the potential to expand this capability across the ecosystem through effective collaboration across the value chain for new technology/ drug introduction, lowering costs, increasing awareness and acceptance of preventive measures, and making healthcare accessible.
By embracing digital health solutions, strengthening infrastructure, promoting preventive care, fostering collaborations and investing in human resources, India can achieve a healthcare system that is capable of meeting the evolving healthcare needs of its population. A more efficient and sustainable healthcare system will contribute to improved health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and a healthier future for all Indians.
Dr Alexander Kuruvilla, Chief Health Strategy Officer, Practo & Co-Chair, IAMAI HealthTech Committee
(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person / organisation directly or indirectly.)
