Advantage and disadvantage of healthcare system in India

 

INDIA: A PREMIER HEALTHCARE DESTINATION

The medical value travel industry has emerged as one of the fastest growing segment of tourism industry despite the global economic downturn. According to the FICCI – IMS Report, India is one of the key MVT destinations in Asia with over 500,000 foreign patients seeking treatment. MVT can be a 9 billion USD opportunity by 2020 through adequate focus and effective execution.

 

India need to focus on dual objectives of “tourism friendliness” and “patient centricity”. However, achieving the stated vision of being “The Provider to the World” would necessitate coordinated efforts by all key stakeholders.

 

India is emerging as a preferred healthcare destination for patients across the globe. Growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27%, the inflow of medical tourists in India is likely to cross 3.2 million in 2016. World class treatment and state of the art hospitals in India have created a very favorable atmosphere for patients with varying degrees of illness to avail the best facilities for their treatment.

 

Our endeavour, through the “Advantage Health Care – India 2017” is to showcase India and its immense pool of medical capabilities as well as create opportunities for healthcare collaborations between the participating countries.

 

 

MEDICAL VALUE TRAVEL IN INDIA

MVT can be a 9 billion USD opportunity by 2020 through adequate focus and effective execution

As outlined above, India needs to diversify its sources of medical tourism and offerings to create a strong value proposition which would help India in becoming leader in medical tourism.

 

Thus with broader offerings catering to large set of global patient pool, India could accelerate its MVT growth from current estimates of 15% to 25%

 

 

However to tap this opportunity, India will have to focus on following considerations

Following are the key considerations for patients while deciding upon the destination for seeking treatment abroad.

 

ADVANTAGES OF HEALTHCARE AND WELLNESS INDUSTRY IN INDIA

State of the art Hospitals with Excellent Infrastructure

Largest pool of Highly qualified and skilled doctors

Well trained & caring nurses and paramedical staff

Latest and highly advanced medical devices

Affordable treatment at costs just 25%-30% of what it would cost in other countries

Absence of waiting time for treatment.

Fluent English-speaking and International languages speaking doctors, nurses and paramedical staff means no language problem for International patients

Ultramodern pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging facilities

The following are the major problems of health services:

 

1.       Neglect of Rural Population:

 

A serious drawback of India’s health service is the neglect of rural masses. It is largely a service based on urban hospitals. Although, there are large no. Of PHC’s and rural hospitals yet the urban bias is visible. According to health information 31.5% of hospitals and 16% hospital beds are situated in rural areas where 75% of total population resides.

 

Moreover the doctors are unwilling to serve in rural areas. Instead of evolving a health system dependent on paramedical (like bare-footed doctors in China) to strengthen the periphery. India has evolved one dependent on doctors giving it a top-heavy character.

 

2.       Emphasis on Culture Method:

 

The health system of India depends almost on imported western models. It has no roots in the culture and tradition of the people. It is mostly service based on urban hospitals. This has been at the cost of providing comprehensive primary health care to all. Otherwise speaking, it has completely neglected preventive, pro-motive, rehabilitative and public health measures.

 

3.       Inadequate Outlay for Health:

 

According to the National Health Policy 2002, the Govt. Contribution to health sector constitutes only 0.9 percent of the GDP. This is quite insufficient. In India, public expenditure on health is 17.3% of the total health expenditure while in China, the same is 24.9% and in Sri Lanka and USA, the same is 45.4 and 44.1 respectively. This is the main cause of low health standards in the country.

 

4.       Social Inequality:

 

The growth of health facilities has been highly imbalanced in India. Rural, hilly and remote areas of the country are under served while in urban areas and cities, health facility is well developed. The SC/ST and the poor people are far away from modern health service.