INDIAN HEATH CARE

OVERVIEW OF INDIAN HEALTHCARE
1. India is one the second most populous nations of our world with a population of over a billion. The Indian economy over the recent past has started looking up and has now decidedly been acknowledged as likely to continue to sustain economic growth. The Indian healthcare Industry though still nascent in size and dynamics compared to other countries has also benefited from this economic boom. The country’s health infrastructure has seen an exponential growth in terms of quantum, quality and expanse due to a significant infusion of funds from Govt and non govt/corporates both in the urban and rural context. The primary driving force for an enhanced demand for quality healthcare standards are the 300 million middle class population. Their need of quality within acceptable costs is making corporate hospitals see reason in reducing tariffs with a view to attract volumes

2. Lets look at what India has- which is not modest:
• 15,000 hospitals, 875,000 hospital beds
• 500,000 doctors, 737,000 nurses
• 170 medical colleges,18,000 new doctors every year
• 350,000 retail chemist outlets
• 500000 clinics/nursing homes countrywide.

3. Healthcare spending. The estimated spending, according to a CII - McKinsey Report, would cross the Rs 2,00,000 crore(USD 50.1 Billion)-mark by 2012 from Rs 86,000 crore in 2001(USD 19Billion) . India now spends over Rs 1,03,000 crore on healthcare of which the delivery market gobbles up Rs 86,000 crore, while the rest goes to the pharma market.

4. Govt Health Policies. In India we have the Federal health ministry called The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare at New Delhi and at each state level a state health ministry. A National Health policy has been spelt out for implementation. Specifically interesting to us is the recognition by the Govt about the absence of a systematic and scientific health statistics data-base as a major deficiency in the current scenario.

5.The Indian Medical Insurance industry is growing at a fast pace both in size and numbers and there is a need to look at improving the delivery mechanism of the insurance players.Perhaps IRDA should also start a process in this direction. Technology and its intelligent use will help both hospitals and insurers to optimise spending.