India’s health care system is one of the most privatised in the world. Thanks to policy of the government to encourage the growth of the private sector, especially since the 1990s, the share of private sector in various components of health care in India is very high. There's still hope if we care to promote private practitioners without weakening public sector.

1. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
IN INDIA
How to plug the gaps

2. Govt should ensure that health benefits are
Accessible
Affordable &
Acceptable to all

3. HURDLES
FACED BY
THE HEALTH
CARE
SECTOR
Monopolised by corporate
sector
Public health care system
is not well equipped
Most government policies
geared towards private
sector
Most of the MBBS doctors
join private hospitals

4. Share of private players in total health sector

5. would be needed in
urban India in coming
5 to 10 years to
achieve the goal of
one doctor per
thousand population
5 lakh
doctors

6. employed in urban
public health centres
currently while 95%
are in the private
sector
60,000
doctors

7. SOLUTIONS :
• Certain private facilities can be contracted & given a
public character
• Private doctors & corporations can be an extension of
public system
• Oversight by community and civil society

8. Obligatory
for all
health
providers
to:
Uphold
patients’
human
rights
Have a just
redressal
system

9. Non-profit
health care
facilities
including
religious trusts
Private general
practitioners
Small private
hospitals edged
out by big
corporates
Private as an ally

10. Approaches to non-profit sector
There is a need to
bring in a degree
of socialization
They should not be
allowed to avail
subsidies without
providing free or
concessional
services
The Trust deed
should list the
main objectives

11. Approaches to general practitioners
Regulate their
location, quality
and pricing
Contract them
into publicly
managed
system on lines
of NHS in UK
Ensure no
corruption in
such insourcing.

12. Approaches to small private hospitals
Already feel
threatened by the
big large corporate
hospitals
Involve them in
public sector with
clear contracts
specifying their
services
Ensure proper
regulatory and
monitoring system

13. Internal
functioning of all
private facilities
need to be
democratised
Staff should
have adequate
say in the
functioning
Trade unions or
associations of
employees can
be an ally in
demanding
regulation
Streamline
private

14. For more information, visit www.goimonitor.com