face to face
The cost of the technology remains high due to the heavy taxes and ultimately the patient bears the brunt. The 200 percent extra has to be paid extra over the MRP at which the machine is imported. Also, the government must understand that the commercial rates can’ t be applied to the land acquired by the hospitals as it will always lead to expensive healthcare. The huge capital is required for land, infrastructure and staff by the healthcare providers who in absence of incentives have to recover the cost, which ultimately leads to burden on patients.
There is a feeling that the private healthcare providers are making a lot of money. I don’ t agree to such notions. It is very difficult to even recover the cost incurred on building the business for the first tenfifteen years. Even after that margins are less.
Coming to the outlay for healthcare in budget, we need to do much better. Our health spending is 1.2 percent of the GDP.
Even if we put together the spending done by private healthcare groups, it is roughly 3.5 percent. The central government and states must ensure that money is spent on healthcare.
Is the digital healthcare a new reality? Does India really require it?
Yes, the digital health is a new reality and we must use it for transformation. Shortage of doctors and paramedical staff is a reality we are familiar with. So, the telemedicine can be used for providing
14 BioVoiceNews | March 2017