Relevance : GS Paper IIÂ
[1100 words summarized to 150]
Issues with health care in India
- India’s health expenditure is still under 1.5%.
- Interim Budget does not adequately respond to the health sector.
- Per capita expenditure on health is very low.
- Allocation for healthcare is merely 2.2% of the Budget.
- Prevention of chronic kidney disease is not appropriately addressed.
- Over 70% of cancers are diagnosed in stages III or IV.
Way forward
- Increase funding for health by 20-25% every year.
- Ayushman Bharat will help reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.
- Integrating modern medicine with traditional Indian medicine.
- Focus on both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Long-term commitment gives rich return. For instance, AIIMS.
- Adding tax on tobacco and alcohol to fund non-communicable disease prevention.
- The health sector must be made a priority area, like defence.
- Universal healthcare must be matched with a quantum leap in funding.
Conclusion
Only if we invest more for the long-term health of the nation will there be a similar rise in GDP.