India and its private health sector perpetuates health inequalities

An article by Yip and Mahal in Health Affairs titled "The Health Care Systems Of China And India: Performance And Future Challenges" discussed a couple issues of India's health care system. First, India's economy is definitely growing and will continue growing for many years to come, primarily due to the emergence of international countries such as the US and others that rely on outsourcing work to India. As a result of this, an influx of money flows into the country, theoretically trickling down from the government to the public. Unfortunately, however, there are greater strides in the private system than the public one. Thus, even though the economy is growing and more people have moved to the middle class, a segment of the population that is considered indigent still have problems accessing basic health care services. The paper also highlights that the unregulated private sector continually lures practicing physicians into private practices catering to the more affluent populations, creating an income gap that results in a disparity in health outcomes favoring the wealthy. Additionally, the rise of medical tourism in countries such as India, shifts the emphasis on building the private sector, leaving the needs of India's impoverished unmet.

It's great to hear that the Indian government wants to invest 1-2% of the nation's GDP into health care, but before we all jump up and claim victory, we must follow where the money goes, because according to Yip and Mahal, the money will likely be used to build up the private sector. And wherever the money goes, quality and access usually follow. It is a true shame, as Sonny said in his blog, that many of the people waiting for care might never actually get the health care they need...

"Will we in the West realize our potential or will we sleep in the comfort of our affluence with apathy and indifference murmuring softly in our ears?" Bono, "The End of Poverty"