Preventive Healthcare

Syllabus: Health

Source:  TH

 Context: India’s rising life expectancy and growing Non communicable disease (NCD) burden demand focus on preventive healthcare for early detection and cost reduction.

What is Preventive Healthcare?

Preventive healthcare focuses on identifying and mitigating potential health risks before they develop into severe conditions.

Types of Preventive Healthcare:

1. Primary Prevention: Prevents diseases through immunization, lifestyle changes, and health education.
2. Secondary Prevention: Focuses on early detection via screenings and diagnostic tests.
3. Tertiary Prevention: Aims to manage and reduce complications of existing conditions.

Need for Preventive Healthcare in India:

• Rising Disease Burden: NCDs account for 65% of deaths, often affecting individuals earlier than global averages.
• Economic Impact: WHO estimates the economic burden of NCDs in India will exceed ₹280 lakh crore by 2030.
• Healthcare Access: Early detection can reduce the financial burden on individuals and the healthcare system.
• Productivity Loss: Chronic diseases lead to significant loss of productivity in the workforce.

Government Schemes for Preventive Healthcare:

• Ayushman Bharat: Includes Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) for early screenings of NCDs.
• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS): Focuses on awareness, screenings, and management of NCDs.
• National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP): Aims to reduce tobacco use and associated diseases.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Provides financial assistance for secondary and tertiary care.
• Mission Indradhanush: Ensures immunization coverage for preventable diseases.
• Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): Targets health conditions in children through early intervention services.

Challenges in Preventive Healthcare:

• High Costs: Preventive screenings and diagnostics are expensive for lower-income groups.
• Limited Awareness: Low awareness about the benefits of preventive healthcare, especially in rural areas.
• Insufficient Coverage: Current schemes do not fully cover preventive diagnostics or screenings.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Inadequate healthcare facilities in remote and underserved regions.
• Behavioral Barriers: Resistance to regular health checkups due to cultural and lifestyle factors.

Way Ahead:

• Expand Public Screenings: Scale up screenings at Ayushman Bharat HWCs using AI-enabled imaging and cost-efficient tools.
• Incentivize Private Sector Participation: Encourage private providers to offer subsidized preventive health packages, especially for high-risk age groups.
• Enhance Tax Incentives: Increase tax deduction limits for preventive health checkups under Section 80D to ₹15,000.
• Targeted Funding: Utilize healthcare cess or GST proceeds from harmful products like tobacco and sugar to finance preventive initiatives.
• Raise Awareness: Conduct national campaigns on the importance of preventive healthcare and early screenings.

Conclusion:

Investing in preventive healthcare can significantly reduce the disease burden, lower healthcare costs, and boost productivity. By prioritizing early intervention and fostering public-private collaboration, India can pave the way for a healthier and economically stronger future.

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