A sneak peek into its rapid growth and tremendous contribution

Bharath Karthikeyan PGDSSM [2011 12]

Your childhood had been exactly similar to mine if the below image used give you a feeling of uneasiness and eternal horror!

In present times, we have the choice on choosing physicians/doctors based on how friendly/hospitable a health care institutions environment is.

A quick tour into the evolution of health care services in India

Evolution of health care in India

Phase I (1947-83)- when the health policy was based on two principles: that none should be denied care for want of ability to pay, and that it was the state's responsibility to provide health care to the people.
Phase II (1983-2000)- when the first National Health Policy of 1983 articulated the need to encourage private initiative in health care service delivery, while at the same time expanding access to publicly funded comprehensive primary health care. Phase III (post-2000)-which is witnessing a further shift that has the potential to profoundly affect the health sector in three important ways: the desire to utilize private sector resources for addressing public health goals; liberalization of the insurance sector to provide new avenues for health financing; and Redefining the role of the state from being only a provider to a financier of health services as well.

Technological Advancements - I

Technological Advancements - II

Technological Advancements - III

Rural health care

Medical Insurance
Insurance is a mechanism by which the losses of a few are met through contributions from many. It is a method of dealing with fortuitous events resulting in a financial loss. Thus 'Health Insurance' aims as taking care of health related expenditure. To fall in line with the spirit of 'Insurance', health insurance is restricted to financing of curative rather than preventive expenditure. Secondly, health insurance is subject to strict principle of indemnity, where the person is indemnified with the amount which he has actually spent/incurred.

Health Insurance Schemes in India

Alternative medicines and health services

Acupuncture Ayurveda Homeopathy Naturopathic medicine Tibetan medicine Traditional Chinese medicine

Medical tourism in India

The great Indian advantage(USPs), Quality and a wide range of services - India has number of hospitals offering world class treatments in nearly every medical sector such as cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, joint replacement, orthopaedic surgery, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, transplants and urology to name a few. The Price advantage - If a heart surgery in the US costs about Rs 45,955 USD, a leading Indian hospital will do it in roughly 4,595 USD!

Role of NGOs
Locating and mapping all slums and vulnerable pockets including unlisted slums, hidden and marginalised pockets. Providing services/linkage to seasonal urban migrants Improve access to water, sanitation and other basic services

Indian pharmacy industry

Indian pharmacy industry is mainly operated as well as controlled by dominant foreign companies having subsidiaries in India due to availability of cheap labour in India at lowest cost. The Pharmaceutical industry in India is the world's third-largest in terms of volume and stands 14th in terms of value

The total turnover of India's pharmaceuticals industry between 2008 and September 2009 was US$21.04 billion.
Sale of all types of medicines in the country is expected to reach around US$19.22 billion by 2012. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in 2010, India joined among the league of top 10 global pharmaceuticals markets in terms of sales by 2020 with value reaching US$50 billion.

Conclusion
Health care services have become one of among the largest contributors to the GDPs of our nation, with increase internal services for the country and also with advent medical tourism, health care services in India will soon join the league of developed nations.