New Delhi : India has witnessed many big changes in the health sector over the past several years, but the health care needs of the country especially the affordability and easy accessibility still remains a challenge.
NATHEALTH, the apex association of Indian healthcare providers, on Friday said it is time to review the model of healthcare sector in India and bring the government’s attention on the Public Private Partnership (PPP), adding the actionable interventions with regard to regulatory changes could significantly improve the entire healthcare ecosystem in the country.
In an exclusive interaction with ANI, NATHEALTH secretary general Anjan Bose said the Public Private Partnership (PPP) will strengthen the entire healthcare ecosystem, adding it is time to review the model of healthcare sector in India.
“We need to review how the PPP models can act as a game changer and become a success in the health care sector. For instance, China’s healthcare model is largely publicly financed programme. India is one of the countries that spend the least on the healthcare sector with a public spending of around one percent of the GDP as compared to three percent in China,” he added.
Bose further said the Draft National Health Policy 2015 also envisages raising progressively the public health expenditure to 2.5 percent of the GDP.
“There should be increase in the healthcare sector’s allocation in the Union Budget to at least three percent,” he added.
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Digital India and adaptation of best practices in the healthcare sector across the country, Bose said information technology has played an important role towards achieving digital health and equitable access of health to all.
“Digital Health care is a project we started two years back. Using digital technology like cloud computing, we are able to provide quality health care in rural areas. Doctors being able to reach to the patients through mobile app is one such element. Also there would be time when the world will not have enough hospitals especially for old-age and senior citizens. Hence, home care facility will be another trend in the making,” he said.
“It is time we need metamorphosis from cure based care to preventive and wellness based care. If we can forecast the disease and come out with solutions than it would benefit the state and would lead to reduction of disease by 30 percent,” he added. (ANI)