Two years into the worst pandemic of our times, transitioning to a lifestyle defined by mask mandates, lockdowns and social distancing, we ask ourselves – how and when will the pandemic end? As Omicron pushed Covid-19 numbers to a new spurt, the answer to when the pandemic will end is far from close. What we can try to answer, however, is “how” the pandemic will end. The solution is composed of several threads. From building inclusive healthcare infrastructure to building resilient public-private partnerships, and investing in R&D to build the health systems of the future, empowering our workforce we stand at a confluence that will reshape the future. will be defined by
Solution with numbers: The Economic Survey, 2020-21 recommended that we need to increase healthcare spending from 1% to 2.5-3% of GDP, so as to reduce “out-of-pocket-expenditure (OOPE) from 65% to 35% can be reduced to %. overall health care spending”.
In addition, we rank 179 out of 189 countries when it comes to prioritizing health in its government budgets (unified federal and state governments). We know how the limited budget on health care left little financial room for powering primary health centres, especially in rural India. From hospital beds to oxygen cylinders, this struggle has cost us many lives. To be future ready, we have to build a resilient health system.
Future-ready health care professionals:The pandemic brought to the fore the inherent risk of non-communicable diseases, where 1 in four Indians is at risk of dying from a non-communicable disease (NCD) before the age of 70, i.e. around 5.8 million people are at risk every year .
We can build a system that will ensure healthcare for all in a pandemic, by taking concrete steps such as investing two-thirds or more of the government’s health spending on public health care as proposed in the National Health Policy (NHP). not broken condition. ) 2017.
Ayushman Bharat target of updating and commissioning 150,000 government primary health care facilities (existing) by December 2022 will provide much needed impetus to our health systems.
However, it is important to understand that healthcare infrastructure is not just about hospitals, but also medical colleges and trained staff that can adequately address the doctor-patient ratio in the country.
According to studies, 2020 saw an increase in the number of registered doctors to over 1.2 million (with the Medical Council of India), however, to adequately understand the health professionals and patient needs through PPPs to prepare for the future. To accomplish this requires committed investment in training and training through PPP.
Turning to Technology for Answers: Today, we have AI-powered intelligence platforms that enable better patient outcomes by integrating and assimilating data from a variety of sources and using advanced algorithms for deeper insights into a patient’s health journey.
Advanced innovation and precision medicine will drive the future of healthcare through better access, affordability and capacity building to deliver quality care.
Building Resilience with Partnerships: COVID-19 drew attention to the importance of public-private partnerships to create a resilient ecosystem. Collaboration between the government and MedTech organizations will be key to building a financial model for crisis preparedness and emergency response, as well as encouraging scientific research and development.
The success of the collaboration model will also be defined by the kind of investments we promise from the region. For example, diagnosis, which is the key to identifying a disease, is affordable and inaccessible to millions of people in India.
We expect the diagnostics market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4% to reach $32 billion (by this year) from $5 billion in 2012. To empower this market share, R&D investment is critical as it will open doors to new innovations, bring solutions that improve patient outcomes and prepare us for the future.
Walking into the future: As we look at the future of healthcare, being the fastest growing economy in the world, with the healthcare sector poised for growth, India must see an evolutionary trajectory.
It is time to look at solutions that will promise results—focusing on preventive care, investing in precision health; Raising standards for primary health centres, enhancing programs to address the threat posed by NCDs, prioritizing women’s health and reshaping the healthcare paradigm with significant participation.
Dr Shravan Subramaniam is the Managing Director at Wipro GE Healthcare.
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