Date : 18/09/2023

Relevance: GS Paper 2 - Social Justice- Healthcare

Keywords: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Medical Value Travel (MVT), AI-driven healthcare, Ayushman Bharat Mission, National Ayush Mission

Context-

In recent years, India has emerged as a global leader in various critical areas, such as climate change, electrification, manufacturing, and space exploration. However, amid these achievements, India faces a pressing healthcare challenge. While envisioning a prosperous future, it must address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and leverage its healthcare expertise and potential in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.

The NCD Epidemic: A Looming Threat

India's rapid progress is juxtaposed with the stark reality of its healthcare landscape. The nation is currently recognized as the world's diabetes capital, and millions suffer from hypertension, heart diseases, cancer, respiratory issues, and mental health disorders. If unchecked, the economic burden of NCDs in India could reach nearly $4 trillion by 2030, potentially erasing the demographic dividend.

Urgent Action Required

• To avert this looming crisis, a collective effort is imperative. The healthcare industry must collaborate to increase awareness, promote healthier lifestyles, and enable comprehensive health checks that incorporate advanced diagnostic scans alongside traditional blood tests.

Healthcare Milestones

• India's healthcare journey has seen remarkable progress. Since the inception of Apollo in 1983, there has been substantial improvement in key health indicators. Infant mortality has reduced by a factor of four, maternal mortality by seven, and life expectancy has surged by nearly 30%, crossing the 70-year mark.
• India now boasts world-class healthcare infrastructure and clinical expertise. It delivers exceptional clinical outcomes at scale and cost-effectively. Its specialization in areas like organ transplants, cardiology, and oncology has positioned the country as a premier destination for medical value travel (MVT).

Medical Value Travel (MVT): A Global Hub

• India's reputation as a global MVT hub has grown, particularly in oncology, orthopedics, and robotic surgery. The introduction of proton beam therapy technology has made India a regional leader in cancer treatment, attracting patients worldwide.
• Orthopedic procedures, including joint replacements and spinal surgeries, are performed with minimally invasive techniques, drawing patients seeking high-quality care at competitive prices. Robotic-assisted surgery has gained popularity for precision and faster recovery.

AI in Healthcare: A Promising Frontier

India possesses immense potential in AI-driven healthcare solutions. It houses a talent pool comprising data scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals capable of driving innovation. AI can significantly impact diagnostics, improving accuracy and efficiency, leading to faster treatment decisions and better patient outcomes.

AI's capabilities extend to disease outbreak prediction, healthcare data analysis, treatment plan optimization, and drug discovery, ultimately personalizing healthcare and enhancing its effectiveness.

Challenges associated with India’s healthcare sector:

• Low Budget Spending: India’s public expenditure on healthcare is only 2.1% of GDP in 2021-22 while Japan, Canada, and France spend about 10% of their GDP on public healthcare.
• Unequal distribution: India’s health care system is concentrated in urban areas with very little presence in the rural areas where the majority of the population lives.
• Lack of Medical Research: In India, R&D and cutting-edge technology-led new projects receive little attention.
• Low doctor-patient ratio: The doctor-patient ratio in India is about 1:1500 much higher than the WHO norm of one doctor for every 1,000 people.
• Lack of Affordability: The contribution of the private sector in healthcare expenditure in India is around 80 percent while the rest 20 percent is contributed by Public Sector.
• The private sector also provides for 58 percent of the hospitals and 81 percent of the doctors in India.

Govt of India Initiatives to improve the healthcare sector in the country:

• Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM): it aims to strengthen India’s health infrastructure and improve the country’s primary, secondary, and tertiary care services.
• Ayushman Bharat: Follows a two-pronged approach by the Creation of health and wellness centers to bring health care closer to homes.
• formulation of a Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) to protect poor and vulnerable families against financial risk arising out of health episodes.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: aims to connect the digital health solutions of hospitals across the country. Under this, every citizen will now get a digital health ID and their health record will be digitally protected.
• National Ayush Mission: it is a centrally sponsored scheme for the development of traditional medicines
• Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY): aims to correct regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.

Conclusion

India stands at a crucial juncture in its healthcare evolution. To realize its potential as a global MVT destination and a leader in AI-driven healthcare, India must prioritize community health, foster public-private partnerships, invest in research, and create an innovation-friendly ecosystem.

By harnessing the collective efforts and commitment to excellence, India can build a healthier and more prosperous future for generations to come. It can combat NCDs, innovate in AI-driven healthcare, and lead the world in healthcare solutions, contributing significantly to the nation's economy and well-being.

Source - The Hindu