GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Government policies and Intervention: Health
Source: Business-Standards
Direction: Although it is a detailed report. These are the basic highlight given on Nasscom webpages. For Mains answer writing, this is sufficient (just quote that Nasscom report has suggested this….)
Context: A report by NASSCOM “Healthcare in India- Transforming Through Innovation” highlights how emerging technologies and innovations are transforming Health.
Status of India’s Health Sector:
-
-
- Increase in healthcare expenditure by a massive 73% ( from 2.73 lakh cr in 2019-20 to 4.72 lakh cr in 2021-22)
- New missions: e-sanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, National Digital Health Mission etc.
- Over 3+ mn requirement of doctors and nurses by 2025
- Over 2000 HealthTech Start-ups (including 4 unicorns)
-
What is driving this growth?
-
-
- Increasing life expectancy ( slated to be 70 years (2025) from 69.66 years currently )
- Increasing % of senior citizens (slated to reach 16% (2041) from 8.6% (2011 census)
- Increasing pressure of diseaseg. Pandemic
- Rising income level
- Increasing health insurance penetration
- Telemedicine and remote care
-
Recommendations by the report:
-
-
- Digitize primary care
- Build healthcare workforce
- National Health App for all healthcare services.
-
Some unique technology innovations (not from the report)
-
-
- Digital ecosystem: E.g. an Apple watch monitors the user’s health and shares the data with healthcare providers to analyse the patient’s health even before the consultation begins.
- AI-based wellness selfie identifies key vitals such as SpO2, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure etc.,
- Non-invasive glucometers, smart health watches, chatbot-based symptom checking etc.
-
Conclusion:
People-centred primary healthcare built upon digitalisation and innovation will lead the way to universal health care in India.
Insta Links
Mains Link
Digitization of healthcare has been in news recently, especially with government interventions such as Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and Health Stack. Those giving mains plz keep a note ready on it.
Q. Discuss the role that the national Digital health mission can play in changing the healthcare market dynamics positively for India. (15M)
Prelims Link
Know the basic features of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and Health Stack and other initiatives.
