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“ India ’ s public spending on health is one of the lowest in the world "
Dr Kenneth E Thorpe , Chairman of Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease is an authority on the health policy issues . As an academic , Dr Thorpe has testified before several committees in the U . S . Congress and advised governments around the world including India on healthcare reform and insurance issues . Here in a ‘ Chat with BioVoice ', he responded to various burning questions on the state of healthcare in India
BY RAHUL KOUL
How do you look at the overall healthcare scenario in India ? India ’ s healthcare scenario is undergoing a striking transition due to the changing lifestyles , urbanization as well as environmental conditions which have given chronic diseases the centre stage . The focus of the government has shifted from women and child health to diabetes , cardiovascular disease , chronic respiratory diseases and cancer – the four leading noncommunicable diseases that account for 53 per cent of India ’ s disease burden and 60 per cent of the total deaths in the country . That India is facing a dual disease burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases is a fact that health experts , policy makers and industry leaders have been reiterating time and again .
What are the key challenges that need to be addressed on priority basis ? Some of the key challenges India is facing today are : low public spend on health , a disease-centric approach over patient-centric approach , and a method of treatment that focuses on curative care rather than preventive care . India ’ s low public spend on
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BioVoiceNews | June 2016