Going back to the Ayurvedic era of medicine and comparing it with today's modern medication and treatment facilities, the health care industry in India has definitely crossed numerous milestones. Historians claim that Indian health care system has played a pivotal role in enhancing overall health and lifestyle of the entire Asian population.
However, despite the rapid pace at which this system is growing, there are still a number of domains at which it is restricted and requires expansion. Considering the ever expanding population of India, the health industry needs to go a long way at ensuring health and welfare of individuals living in any part of the country.
Moving ahead, let us have a look at areas where the Indian health care system needs to bring about an immediate and substantial modification, so as to make health care easily accessible for all and not leave it as a far-fetched luxury.
Missing doctors and multiplying patients:
One of the recent health care surveys made some appalling revelations. The report said that although India is producing 30,000 doctors and 18,000 specialists annually, there is only one doctor for every 1700 individuals across the country.
In addition, the aging population of the country is rising. This further necessitates the need for more and more doctors who can ensure good health condition for every individual belonging to any age group.
Rising diseases that lack instant and effective cure, as in cases of Cancer or HIV, also play huge obstruction towards enhanced health care services. The difference between the ratio of specialists treating such diseases and number of cases across the country is simply incomparable. To meet this huge gap is one of the biggest challenges for this health system today.
The Urban Rural Divide:
It is not only the shortage of doctors that is making health care very distant to access. It is also the unwillingness of doctors to move to rural setups and render services to people living in remote areas. It is unfortunate that even though more than half the population comprises the rural belt, this scenario persists; despite of mandatory rules where doctors need to serve in a rural area for a definite and considerable time.
Health care centers in interior villages have number of positions for general physicians, specialists or care givers. However, most of these remain vacant for number of years. Employees working in these facilities remain absent for indefinite period.
When talking about specialist doctors and vital services such as ambulance, the situation is all the more grim and difficult. Let alone rural zones, urban set ups don't have enough and accessible specialists too.
When it comes to ambulance facilities for emergency cases, the situation is extremely depressing. Private cars are the only means of taking serious patients to nearby hospitals. Despite abundant fatal cases accounting to unavailability of ambulance when required; the situation has not seen any noticeable change for betterment.
Shortage of adequate medical insurance plans:
Another setback to growing Indian Health care system is the lack of structured payment mechanism and insurance support.
Only five to seven percent of Indian population comes under health insurance policies. And this only includes the urban and high income population. The rest are forced to make huge payments that drive them towards the poverty line.
Well, all is not bad and there are thousands of reasons to celebrate the growth and development of Indian Health care system. Private hospitals render unmatched services. Indian doctors are of the potential of being the most efficient and skilled professionals if supported by sufficient technical advents and quality infrastructure.
Today, India is the best medical destination for people abroad as it offers impeccable services at very affordable prices as far as tourists are concerned. Fighting the above mentioned drawbacks will definitely make India the largest and the best health care industry globally.
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