Transforming Indian Healthcare Pt. II: Health Coverage & Revisiting National Health Survey
Navigating the Nuances of Healthcare Accessibility: Insights and Innovations in India's Healthcare Journey
This article is the fourth in a series of articles titled State of Indian Healthcare where we will compile analytical reports to provide an overview of healthcare accessibility in India. The report utilises the available Indian government healthcare data to examine various aspects related to healthcare accessibility, including availability, affordability, and quality of healthcare services across different regions of the country. The findings indicate several challenges that need to be addressed to improve healthcare accessibility in India. If you want to get the final list of data sources and references for the analytics, it will be available in the last article of this series.
Merry Christmas!! Trust this letter finds you in holiday spirits and good health. I am currently enjoying the coziness of a family gathering in India, far removed from the north.
In this article I continue from where we left off in the last piece to cover the idea of health insurance coverage and its impact on healthcare accessibility. Let me warm you up to our latest composition by giving you a recap of the points covered so far.
Recap
In my first article on the series State of Indian Healthcare Accessibility, I had briefly highlighted the various challenges facing the government and in the previous article
of this series on Transforming Indian Healthcare Pt. I on state of global health, I delved into the history of public health insurance and its origins.
But first, if you would like to access the full article in the series, a small caveat here. Subscribe to our newsletter and be updated on how we are tackling the challenges in healthcare accessibility with our non-profit service which has also been mainly open-source and runs on the support of many hearty volunteers from across the globe. For us, your support through sharing is a form of caring. When you read this article, it does not help us drive to a unicorn status or flashy media banterings. Instead, your comments and messages guide us on piecing the unknowns and parts that we missed while gathering data and helps us understand better the missing link between you and healthcare infrastructure and how we can better it through the commons health-tech platform.
NFHS-5 Highlights and Health Coverage Trends
The National Health Profile 2022 by the Government of India reveals critical insights and trends in the country's healthcare landscape. We started off this series with a look at one of the largest surveys by any country in the world. Here is a qualitative trend of the results over the previous 3 National Health Family Survey to understand which states have had the largest share of households enrol into healthcare financing schemes.
The analysis of National Health Profile & the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-20 highlights the evolving landscape of health coverage in the nation.
Expansion of Health Insurance Coverage
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): A landmark initiative aiming to provide a health cover of up to Rs. 5 Lakhs per family annually, AB-PMJAY has significantly contributed to increasing health insurance coverage among the economically weaker sections of the population. As of January 2023, this scheme facilitated over 4.07 crore hospitalizations, substantially reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses for families.
Improvements in Maternal and Child Health Coverage
Institutional Births and Antenatal Care: NFHS-5 data indicates a rise in institutional births and improved access to antenatal care, suggesting that more women are receiving the necessary medical attention during childbirth and pregnancy. This shift is a positive sign of broader health coverage for maternal and child health services.
Child Immunizations and Nutrition: There's an observed improvement in child immunizations and nutrition monitoring, signifying an expansion in coverage for essential child health services. However, the persistent issue of anaemia in women and children calls for enhanced nutritional and health programs.
Digital Health Initiatives
National Digital Health Mission (NDHM): The introduction of NDHM is set to revolutionize health coverage by creating an integrated database of health service providers and patient records. This move aims to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of health services, indicating a trend towards more sophisticated and comprehensive health coverage.
“But Akul! Doth not know it has flaws as we mortals do?” Ofcourse, the report embraces these challenges as well:
Persistent Gaps: Despite progress, there are still significant gaps in postnatal care, quality of services, and access disparities, especially in rural areas or among disadvantaged groups. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring equitable and universal health coverage.
Rising Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): With an increasing burden of NCDs, there's a need for health coverage that not only addresses immediate health concerns but also provides long-term care and management for chronic conditions.
In the next article, in this series on State of Indian Healthcare, I will take these two challenges head on and yes, with guest posing. Till then, I wish you happy holidays and a very bright and happy new years!