Health

 MEANING

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Good health is central to human happiness and well-being that contributes significantly to prosperity and wealth and even economic progress, as healthy populations are more productive, save more and live longer.

TYPES OF HEALTH FACILITIES

1) Hospital:-  A hospital is an institution for healthcare typically providing specialized treatment .Today, hospitals are usually funded by the state, health organizations, health insurances or by charities and by donations.  Hospitals are nowadays staffed by professionally trained doctors, nurses, paramedical clinicians, etc., 

2) Healthcare center:- Healthcare centres, including clinics, doctor's offices, urgent care centers and ambulatory surgery centres, serve as first point of contact with a health professional and provide outpatient medical, nursing, dental, and other types of care services.

3) Medical Nursing Homes:- Medical nursing homes, are health care institutions which have accommodation facilities and which engage in providing short-term or long-term medical treatment of a general or specialized nature.

4) Pharmacies and drug stores:- Pharmacies and drug stores comprise establishments engaged in retailing prescription or nonprescription drugs and medicines, and other types of medical and orthopedic goods. Regulated pharmacies may be based in a hospital or clinic or they may be privately operated, and are usually staffed by pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy aides.

5) Medical laboratory and research:- A medical laboratory or clinical laboratory is a laboratory where tests are done on biological specimens in order to get information about the health of a patient. Such laboratories may be divided into categorical departments . 

In many countries, there are two main types of labs that process the majority of medical specimens. Hospital laboratories are attached to a hospital, and perform tests on these patients. Private or community laboratories receive samples from general practitioners, insurance companies, and other health clinics for analysis.

A biomedical research facility is where basic research or applied research is conducted to aid the body of knowledge in the field of medicine. Medical research can be divided into two general categories: the evaluation of new treatments for both safety and efficacy in what are termed clinical trails, and all other research that contributes to the development of new treatments. The latter is termed preclinical research if its goal is specifically to elaborate knowledge for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

HEALTHCARE IN INDIA

The size of Indian Healthcare sector is expected to reach $ 280 billion by 2020 as per some reports. Healthcare industry in India comprises hospitals, medical tourism, health insurance, medical equipment, telemedicine, outsourcing, clinical trials, medical devices.

1. The multiple reasons for growth are increased diseases due to lifestyles, rising income, greater health awareness, improved access to insurance.
2. As per 2016 report India had reduced the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) by around 26% since 2013.
3. The hospital industry is expected to reach approximately $ 132 billion by 2022.
4. 74% of expenditure in the healthcare sector comes from Private sector.
5. Medical tourism segment in India is growing at the rate of 18% and it is expected to reach $ 9 billion by 2020.

Central Government Schemes – Healthcare Sector in India

Health is a state subject, the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments in delivery of health services through various schemes for primary, secondary, and tertiary care.

1. By 2025, the Government of India is planning to increase the expenditure on Health care to 2.5% of the GDP.
2. In the Union Budget 2020-21, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was allocated a budget of more than Rs 65,000 crores. 
3. In Budget 2020-21, Government of India has approved the extension of National Health Mission with an allocated budget of around Rs 34,000 crores.
4. The National Nutrition Mission has set an objective of reducing the under nutrition, problems of stunting by 2%
5. The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) – This is the largest health care program funded by the Government. 
6. In the Union Budget 2020-21, PMJAY was allocated a budget of more than Rs 6400 crores.
7. As of Nov 2019, more than 63 lakh people have received free treatment under Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY.
8. In the Union Budget 2020-21, Government of India allocated Rs 3,000 crores for Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakhsa Yojana (PMSSY).

In Budget 2021 health sector is focused on by Government, which was severely hit by the unprecedented pandemic. The focus has been laid on healthcare and infrastructure with an eye on achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Assessing Indian Healthcare Industry

In India, the Health care sector is one of the largest sectors in terms of both revenue and employment. It can be categorized into public and private.

• • Public health care hospitals comprise secondary and tertiary care institutions in urban areas while primary basic facilities are focused in rural areas.
  • Private health care sectors provide secondary, tertiary, and quaternary services in metro cities
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  • What are the issues and concerns of the Sector?

  • India’s health care sector has achieved some positive achievements on the health indicators but suffers some serious shortcomings in care delivery.

  • 1) Inadequate reach: The inadequate reach of basic healthcare services, shortage of medical personnel, quality assurance, the inadequate outlay for health, and most importantly insufficient impetus to research.
  • 2) Inadequate Fund: The inadequate fund allocation by the administrations is one of the grave concerns.
  • 3) Optimal Insurance: The concept of health insurance is still not clear in India and the market is still virgin.
  • 4) No focus on Preventive Care: In India, there is a very low emphasis on preventive care, which can be proved very effective in solving a lot of problems for the patient in terms of misery or financial losses.
  • 5) Less emphasis on Medical Research: In India, there is no much impetus is being given to R&D and cutting-edge technology-led new initiatives. Such technologies could be useful in an unprecedented situation like Covid-19.
  • 6) Issue of Policymaking: For providing effective and efficient healthcare services policymaking is certainly an important aspect. In India, the problem is fundamental of supply than demand, where policymaking can be effective.
  • 7) Shortage of Medical Workforce: In India, there is a shortage of doctors, nurses, and other staff in the health sector. As per a report laid down by a minister in Parliament, there is a shortage of 600,000 doctors in India.
  • 8) Inadequate outlay for health: As per National Health Policy 2002, India contributes only 0.9 percent of its GDP to the Health care sector.
  • 9) Lack of structure: Private hospitals are expensive and public hospitals are either not enough for the Indian Population or lack the basic facilities.

  
  

  Opportunities in Health Care Sector

  • Indian health care sector is expected to increase to Rs. 8.6 trillion (US$ 133.44 billion) by 2022. It is almost three times which is what it’s now in present.
  • Data Analytics: With the arrival of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), the digital Health ID will come which will store the data of patients. It would help in effective policymaking and private players can get an edge in introducing the new technologies in the market.
  • Private investments: With the advent of information technology and big data it would be easy for private players to invest strategically.
    
    

    Ayushman Bharat Scheme It is the largest health scheme in the world. It would primarily target the poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of families as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data for both rural and urban areas. The expenses incurred will be shared between Centre and States in a 60:40 ratio.

  • Employment opportunity: As we know Indian health care sector lacks a workforce, there is a space for thousands of employees.
  • Start-ups: With the help of Government and private players an environment of start-ups and entrepreneurship can be created in this field.
  • Medical Tourism: India is already one of the favorite medical Tourism Destinations in the world and in the upcoming years this sector can be harnessed efficiently.

  Government Initiatives CO-WIN: In December 2020, a new COVID-19 vaccine delivery digital platform called 'CO-WIN' is being prepared to deliver vaccines. Budget: In Union Budget 2020 21, Rs. 35,600 crore (US$ 5.09 billion) has been allocated for nutrition-related programs. Rs. 69,000 crores (US$ 9.87 billion) outlay announced for the health sector that is inclusive of Rs. 6,400 crore (US$ 915.72 million) for PMJAY in Union Budget 2020–21. The Government of India aims to increase healthcare spending to 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2022. Social determinants of health (SDH) approach: Over the last decade, the Government has been silently working on translating the SDH framework into practice, with key interventions in the areas of: nutrition (National Nutrition Mission) drinking water (Har Ghar Jal) indoor air pollution (Ujjwala Yojna) sanitation (Swachh Bharat) road access (Gram Sadak Yojana) gender (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao)

  What measures are required in the sector?

  • Improving infrastructure: There is a need of improvising the infrastructure of public hospitals which have a lot of burden due to the high population in India.
  • Focus on private hospitals: Private hospitals must be encouraged by the government because their contribution is important. Private sector also needs to participate because the challenges are significant and these cannot be resolved only by the government alone.
  • Efficiency enhancement: More medical personnel must be recruited to enhance the capabilities and efficiency of the sector.
  • Technology utilisation: Technologies must be used to connect the dots in the health system. Medical devices in hospitals/ clinics, mobile care applications, wearables, and sensors are some forms of technology that should be added in this sector.
  • Awareness: People should be made aware of early detection and preventive care. It would help them in saving pocket expenditure also.

  Conclusion

  The year 2021 could be the year when India consolidates and expands on its social determinants of health (SDH) approach. India now needs to sustain its current interest in strategic health policy as a key pillar of the economy