Current state of healthcare in india: A critical appraisal of the national health protection scheme and way forward

Abstract

In most emerging economies, the key healthcare issues are its access and delivery. Further, there is double burden of care arising out of communicable and growing chronic diseases. The prevailing healthcare systems in these economies are one of complete dominance of the private healthcare providers. These provisions, however, have been found to be inequitable and inefficient. In India, most government health insurance schemes have made limited impact in spite of their grandness, for the same reason. It is found that wherever there are adequate public healthcare provisions, the outcomes are much better. The new healthcare scheme of Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance in India has attempted to address this dilemma in policy wordings. In order to make the public health insurance schemes effective, the healthcare industry needs total restructuring based on re-strengthening of the public healthcare system.