Quality healthcare for all by 2025 to cost $86 bn

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The alarming scenario and the challenge of raising the bed density from the current level of 0.86 to over two by 2025 are some issues that will come under the scanner at the FICCI HEAL 2008 Conference and Exhibition

CJ: Abu Sheikh

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 18:22:03 IST

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FICCI HEAL 2008 Conference :

ABYSMAL LEVELS of health care outcomes, inadequate health infrastructure and low access, poor consumer initiatives are key challenges to be addressed by India to achieve its aspiration towards ‘Quality healthcare for all’ says a joint study by FICCI and Ernst & Young titled “Fostering Quality Healthcare for All.”

According to the study, to reach the target of two hospital beds per thousand population, an additional 17.5 lakh beds and requisite infrastructure for medical education would need to be created by year 2025. For this, an estimated investment of Rs 3,70,000 crores ($ 86 billion) would be required.

This alarming scenario and the challenge of raising the bed density (hospital beds per thousand population) from the current level of 0.86 to over two by 2025 are some issues that will come under the scanner at the FICCI HEAL 2008 Conference and Exhibition on August 7-8, 2008, in New Delhi.

Addressing media persons on Thursday, Shivinder Mohan Singh, chairman, FICCI Health Services Committee, said, “To bridge the huge supply-demand gap, there is urgent need for rapid expansion of quality healthcare and the sector needs to be accorded the infrastructure status.”

Singh said that while private healthcare insurance has grown at the rate of 40 per cent yearly, lack of awareness, high premiums and poor infrastructure has kept insurance out of the reach of ordinary people.

The study identifies boosting human resources and public private partnership as key to achieving India’s aim of ‘quality healthcare for all’. Considering there is a net addition of around 17,000 doctors per year against a requirement of seven lakh additional doctors by the year 2025, additional medical colleges would need to be set up.

According to Dr Amit Mitra, secretary general, FICCI: “There is a shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases due to changes in lifestyles owing to sustained 8-9 per cent GDP growth. This leads to huge economic losses estimated at 1.3 per cent of GDP. If the healthcare issues are not addressed holistically, these losses would mount to five per cent of GDP, a whopping Rs 6, 100, 000 crores by 2015.”

Kali Prasad, partner, Healthsciences Practice, Ernst & Young stated: “The healthcare sector is witnessing exponential growth and attracting several players and investors. While the government has undertaken positive initiatives and recognised the sector as priority in the 11th Plan, there is still a lot to be done.

Anjan Bose, co-chair, FICCI Health Services Committee, pointed out: “The government should facilitate setting up of medical technology parks to promote indigenous manufacturing, which will reduce the cost of medical technologies and equipment and thereby reduce the cost burden on the patients.”

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