Public investment in healthcare in India: The context of Covid-19 pandemic
- Bihar Journal of Public Administration
- 18(1A), Jan-Jun, 2021: p.72-85
The present pandemic conditions have highlighted inadequate healthcare facilities in India. The public health expenditure is also lower in context of prescribed norms (National Health Policy, National Committees on Health and International Health Institutions/Organization). In compliance of the guidelines of Universal Health Coverage directed by the World Health Organization, the Government of India has implemented health insurance scheme and Ayushman Bharat scheme in order to address the shortage of resources and to reduce the excessive out of pocket expenditure. Here the question - are these governmental endeavours sufficient to meet the present Corona crisis? As such, the present paper intends to highlight the growing issues and challenges before the healthcare sector in India in the conditions of Covid-19 pandemic and also the nature of public investment in the sector. It further goes to assess the assurance of employment opportunities in the healthcare sector and the possibilities of achieving Universal Health Coverage, thereby suggesting ways to cope up with the situation. It has been found that inclusion of private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme have not shown much promise rather have indulged in malpractices and arbitrary charges. Therefore, it is suggestible that the government of India should focus on grounding the actual health care facilities by appropriate public investment. – Reproduced