Over the last few decades, the progression in medical technology has made it promising to cure diseases that were once considered incurable. However, the cost of their treatment is so great, it is almost unmanageable for a middle class person to afford them.
In July 2019, The Central government has admitted that 75 lakh families fall below the poverty line annually due to the rising cost of health care in India.
It is quite clear that even though healthcare facilities have grown tremendously, their affordability remains out of grasp for most Indians. From drugs to surgeries, to other medical processes, nothing costs less than a few lakhs. Hence, the only way to keep yourself economically protected against medical requirements is by buying a health insurance policy.
Healthcare costs are increasing all over the world. In India, where a major portion of the population lives underneath the poverty line, the rising costs have made medical support almost unaffordable, even for the middle class.
It is a well-known fact that the current health-care system has desolately failed not only in developing countries (including India) but also in developed nations like USA, UK, and others. The cost of the lot is going up and up and the health-care cost is no exemption.
The rising cost has a different influence when health-care cost is taken into thought because one can reduce spending in many things like in kitchen, on vehicles or holidays but not when you or your loved one is having a medical issue; neither can you postpone it nor can you elect for poor quality care.
There is no single factor accountable for rising health-care costs. Our system is multifaceted and the cost drivers are plentiful. Everyone has to help only then we can halt this development. Self-analysis is call of the day, followed by trustworthiness and strictness.
In India 40 to 50 percent of people live beneath the poverty line. We cannot blindly emulate the US or Europe, we have to adapt our approach to suit the pocket of our people. Even the developed countries are finding it problematic to cope up with this rise.
Preventive care plays a significant role in endorsing good healthy habits by reassuring people to stop smoking, consume alcohol with restraint, eat healthy food, exercise more, and drive sensibly.
These precautionary steps would definitely help slow the advance of health-care costs. Health education, awareness and regular check-ups can analyse most diseases at an early stage when the expenditure is much less than in the advanced juncture.
We have to control the mounting costs. A large segment of our people cannot be allowed to surrender to their medical problems. Cost of healthcare in India should be brought under control; otherwise a bulk of the Indian population will be deprived of an essential right – the right to health.
From 1996 to 2006, the health-care price has doubled up in US. In 2007, the cost was $ 2.2 trillion, or $ 7,421 per person, which was 16.2 per cent of the GDP (double the normal of other developed countries). This is anticipated to rise to 25 per cent in 2025 and 49 per cent in 2082, i.e., almost 50 per cent of the entire budget, which even the US will not be able to find the money for.
While India’s healthcare costs look inexpensive to medical tourists, they are costly, almost unaffordable, for the average Indian citizen. The healthcare expenditure of Rs 1500 for a poor family may seem like a paltry amount, but it is 50 per cent of their monthly income.
On many occasions, patients even sell their jewellery and possessions to pay their medical bills. In India, most government medical centers are overloaded and private health-care is very costly consequential in reduced access to any procedure of health care for an average person. A large number of patients in fact die every day without getting any medical support.
Transplantation for damaged organs, administration of chronic diseases (including cancer), cardiac, neuro, joint replacement, cosmetic surgery etc. are accessible only to rich or to those whose health care is covered by their employers or insurance companies.
As per modest approximation each of these procedures cost between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 20 lakh. The follow-up upkeep cost is separate. How many Indians can afford this? The Indian insurance policies are such that their first effort is to evade the payment or pay only a portion of the bills of the corporate hospitals.
The main effect of the rising cost is, therefore, either complete non-availability or accessibility of poor quality health care; patients are even pushed to poverty. The Government establishments can look after only a small section of patients, waiting period is huge, add to this uncaring attitude of staff, prevalent unhygienic conditions, gross inconsistency in the demand and supply of facilities, and the picture looks depressing.
A patient, thus, has to knock at the gates of private institutions. The corporate hospitals are beyond the touch of even middle-class people. Pointless surgical or investigative procedures are carried out regularly, angiography for any patient visiting cardiology, any patient complaining of abdominal uneasiness is subjected to endoscopy, upper GI and may be colonoscopy.
Undertaking surgeries for conditions, which can be easily treated with drugs & medicines only, knee replacement is the newest in this list. Manifold, repetitive, expensive investigations and use of non-reusable items are other causative factors that one has to face in a private hospital. Numerous cross-references for minor matters are another factor totalling to the cost.
One of the major worries for most senior citizens is declining health. In the face of steep payments for health insurance and increasing healthcare costs, managing health-related expenses can be really difficult. Health insurance does not take care of all your requirements like day-to-day care (OPD needs). Even if your cover is adequate for hospitalisation, various constituents do not get paid by insurance companies. Therefore, you need to keep aside some money for your healthcare needs as you come close to age of 50 years. Unfortunately, many of the elderly don’t have health cover and possibly out of range for getting one because of their circumstances. They can find out if they can get covered as dependants of their children’s corporate health plans. Improved life expectancy, quick urbanisation and lifestyle changes have led to the advent of varied problems for the elderly in India. The elderly population undergoes high rates of morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases. Unattended chronic disease, high-priced medicines and treatment and malnutrition are part of old age life in India as there is no system of reasonable healthcare.
Insurance cover that is elderly-sensitive is practically non- existent in India and, if provided, it’s very costly, limited to hospitalization and with many omissions. Healthcare system for elderly in India is awfully bad and very costly which many can’t afford as equated to developed countries where government schemes and healthcare system look after their senior citizens.
In present times, people normally live longer but a long life is valuable only if it is disease-free. India faces a hastily increasing healthcare crisis. In addition to recurrent diseases like dengue, we have chronic lifestyle-related disorders such as diabetes. This is compounded by one of the fastest rising elderly populations in the world: by 2050 we will have 240 million elderly.
Health care has become a profitable business venture. Most corporate hospitals are prosperous, growing, opening new projects all over the globe but charity, concession, assistance do not exist in their vocabulary.
Many of these hospitals have got prime land on subsidised rates, in lieu of which they were supposed to deliver free beds to poor and worthy patients. But hardly any of them does that. As in investigations, many drugs are needlessly prescribed without sound symptoms, antibiotics, vitamins, tranquillisers, analgesics, food supplements are the common ones.
