Healthcare in India is one of the biggest healthcare industries in the world, catering to a population of more than one billion four hundred million people. Still, many healthcare problems remain in India, even though medical technology and infrastructure have considerably improved.

These healthcare challenges in India go a long way in determining the quality of life that millions of citizens in the country enjoy but, at the same time, exert pressure on the healthcare industry in India.

It is only through such understanding that there can be progress towards enhancing the general offered health care in India because, despite the current trend where the government is working to redress such hitches, their identification is significant.

Why Do We See Healthcare Challenges in India ?

One reason healthcare challenges in India are a bit hard to overcome is the various demography, varying socio-economic profiles, and physical features present in India.

That’s why trends such as rapid urbanization, population growth, and the increasing number of NCDs make the challenges of delivering care in India even more significant.

Further, there are differences in terms of accessibility of health care services in India, where urban citizens are privileged over rural citizens.

8 Key Healthcare Challenges in India

1. Inadequate Infrastructure

In India, 70 per cent of people live in rural areas, but most healthcare centres are in urban areas. The National Health Profile 2022 indicates that while rural areas have one hospital bed per 1,600 people, metropolitan areas have one hospital bed per 500 people. Most public health facilities are poorly equipped and staffed, and patients are treated in overcrowded wards.

2. Deficiency of Doctors

According to the World Health Organization, an ideal doctor-patient ratio should be 1:1000. In India, the ratio is around 1:834. Data collected from this research showed a severe shortage of healthcare providers since 1,456 were presented in the country.

Qualified, experienced medical personnel and trained paramedical staff are hard to come by, and this is reflected in the quality of service, especially in complicated areas such as cardiology and oncology.

3. Large Co-Payments

A recent survey noted that as much as 63 per cent of expenditures in the health sector are incurred through direct payments by households, especially forcing many families to borrow. This is aggravated by the fact that not many people in the country have adequate health insurance coverage.

The price of essential drugs has not come down, making them a preserve of the well-to-do.

4. Noncommunicable Diseases

The shift from a highly mobile society to a more sedentary one has resulted in raised incidences of non-communicable diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery diseases, among other illnesses. The latest Global Burden of Disease Study shows that global NCDs account for 60% of the mortality rate in India.

Control of chronic illnesses remains early and difficult because the rudimentary structures to support and promote healthcare provisions are absent.

5. Public Health Issues

Infections such as TB, malaria, and dengue are still significant health issues worldwide. This, in addition to new diseases such as COVID-19, puts pressure on the health sector.

The lack of sanitization, hygiene and inadequate personal cleaning raises the risk of contracting diseases common in farming communities.

6. Healthcare Accessibility

Geographical barriers in remote and hilly areas significantly limit access to healthcare facilities. The limited number of health centers in these regions is often insufficient to meet the needs of the population. As a result, even basic medical care remains inaccessible for many residents, who are forced to travel long distances to receive treatment.

Cost is currently one of the biggest impediments to accessing quality health care. Most of the services provided by various healthcare facilities are expensive and, hence, beyond the reach of most persons.

7. Accountability

There is no one to blame for the current state of healthcare delivery, and thus, there is a lack of trust and poor quality of services. This involves transparency and responsibility from the healthcare providers to the policymakers. Appropriate systems and training for ethical and efficient healthcare practice would assist in creating accountability in the sector.

8.  Low Budget

 India spent only 2.1% of its GDP on public healthcare in 2021-22, much less than countries like Japan, Canada and France, which spend nearly 10% on public healthcare. Our neighbouring countries, like Bangladesh and Pakistan, also pay more than 3% of their GDP on public health, so there is a call to increase investment in the Indian health system.

Government Initiatives to Address These Challenges

1. Ayushman Bharat Program

It was launched in September 2018; it is one of the most significant healthcare initiatives in the world, targeting more than 500 million people to set them free.

The scheme entails a sum of up to ₹ five lakhs per family per year for hospitalization in secondary and tertiary treatment.

2. National Health Mission (NHM)

NHM, which includes the National Rural Health Mission and the National Urban Health Mission, i.e. NUHM, aims to improve healthcare delivery in rural and urban areas. It focuses on strengthening infrastructure, increasing the workforce, and enhancing the availability of essential drugs.

3. Digital Health Initiatives

The National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) aims to create a digital healthcare ecosystem by providing health IDs, electronic health records, and telemedicine services. This initiative seeks to make healthcare in India more accessible and efficient.

4. Healthcare Financing

The government is increasing budget allocations for healthcare, aiming to spend 2.5% of GDP on health by 2025, up from the current 1.2%. This increase will help improve infrastructure, train medical professionals, and expand health insurance coverage. Several states have launched health insurance schemes to complement central programs and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.

5. Focus on Preventive Healthcare

Campaigns promoting vaccination, sanitation, and healthy lifestyles are underway to reduce the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. • Initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have significantly improved sanitation and hygiene, which are crucial for public health.

Better Care Within Reach – Role Of Top Medical Institutions in Combating Healthcare Challenges in India

India's top medical institutions hold immense potential to revolutionize healthcare access and quality. By embracing telemedicine, they can extend their expertise to remote corners, bridging geographical gaps. Investing in robust training programs for healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas, is crucial. Furthermore, fostering collaborative research and development focused on affordable, innovative solutions tailored to India's unique healthcare needs can significantly improve quality. Finally, by championing transparent, ethical practices and actively engaging with policymakers, these institutions can drive systemic change and pave the way for a healthier India.

Conclusion

Healthcare challenges in India are complex and numerous – and they impact the populace on a large scale. Clinically, they include a shortage of health facilities and human resources, high out-of-pocket expenses, emerging non-communicable diseases, and inadequate infrastructure.

Programs like Ayushman Bharat, NHM, and the advanced use of digital health are good resolutions for the government to overcome the above challenges.

Therefore, there is a need to note and constantly and proactively work to attain a more resilient and inclusive healthcare system that would still demand a lot of effort and investment. Solving them is pivotal to enhancing the available health care to each citizen in the world’s largest jurisdiction, thus lifting the population’s health and quality in India.

References

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6166510/

https://retailio.in/5-Challenges-faced-by-the-Medical-sector-in-India.html

https://www.expresshealthcare.in/news/health-infrastructure-is-one-of-the-primary-challenges-in-indias-healthcare-sector/441584/