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