Preventive Healthcare in India

1. In India, Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer are rising sharply which is causing a heavy financial burden on population.

What is Preventive Healthcare?

1. Preventive healthcare, often called measures to stop diseases before they start, focuses on keeping people healthy rather than treating illnesses.
2. It plays a critical role in improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and ensuring a higher quality of life.
3. In India, with rising cases of lifestyle diseases, escalating healthcare expenses, and limited access to quality healthcare, preventive care is more important than ever.

What are the Rising Healthcare Challenges in India?

1. Alarming Increase in Non-Communicable Diseases: NCDs such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer accounted for 65% of all deaths in 2022, a significant rise from 50% in 2010-13 (National Family Health Survey-5).

1. One in four adult men in India has high blood pressure, and one in eight adults is diabetic.
2. Breast, lung, and cervical cancers are being diagnosed earlier compared to global averages, leading to increased disease burden.

2. Financial Burden on Individuals and the Economy: The Union Budget 2024 allocated ₹87,657 crore to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare which is a 13% increase from the previous year.

1. Still, it is insufficient given the magnitude of the crisis.
2. India’s healthcare expenditure for 2021-22 was ₹7.9 lakh crore, growing faster than inflation.
3. Families bear over 50% of healthcare costs, among the highest globally, due to high out-of-pocket expenses.
4. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the economic cost of NCDs in India will exceed ₹280 lakh crore by 2030, equivalent to ₹2 lakh per household.

3. Disparities in Healthcare Access: Rural areas face unavailable, unaffordable, and inaccessible healthcare services. Lack of coordination between primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities worsens the problem.

Why the Preventive Healthcare is important?

Preventive healthcare helps in:

1. Increasing Lifespan: Early diagnosis and timely intervention can improve survival rates.
2. Lowering Costs: Reducing the need for expensive treatments and hospitalizations saves money for families and the government.
3. Improving Quality of Life: Preventing diseases or detecting them early minimizes complications and suffering.
4. Reduce complications during treatment by addressing health issues at initial stages.

What are the Types of Preventive Healthcare Measures?

1. Primal Prevention: Aims to stop diseases before they occur by addressing risk factors.

1. Example: Ensuring maternal and child health through proper nutrition and care; Vaccinations, healthy eating, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking.

2. Secondary Prevention: Detects diseases early, before symptoms appear, to prevent complications.

1. Example: Cancer screenings, blood pressure monitoring, and managing diabetes.

3. Tertiary Prevention: Aims to reduce the impact of symptomatic diseases through treatment and rehabilitation.

1. Example: Rehabilitation after a stroke or treating diabetes to prevent organ damage.

4. Quaternary Prevention: Prevents unnecessary or excessive medical interventions.

1. Example: Avoiding overuse of antibiotics or unnecessary surgeries.

What are the Barriers to Preventive Healthcare in India?

1. High Costs: Preventive health checks cost between ₹8,000-₹15,000, making them unaffordable for many.
2. Low Awareness: Many people are unaware of the benefits of regular check-ups and screenings.
3. Inadequate Infrastructure: Rural areas lack basic health facilities and trained personnel.
4. Policy Gaps: Current tax deductions for preventive health checks (₹5,000) have not kept pace with rising healthcare costs.

What Strategies can be implemented to Strengthen Preventive Healthcare?

Policy Measures

1. Enhancing Tax Incentives: Increase the tax deduction limit under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act from ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 to encourage preventive health checks.
2. Government Investment: Raise healthcare spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, as per the National Health Policy, 2017.

1. Expand health insurance coverage, especially for informal sectors.

3. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Encourage private companies to adopt and manage primary health centers in underserved regions.

Strengthening Infrastructure

1. Ayushman Health and Wellness Centres: Enable targeted screenings using AI-enabled imaging and data analytics.

1. Improve early intervention capabilities for high-risk populations.

2. Digital Health Initiatives: Implement the National Digital Health Mission for creating health IDs and seamless healthcare access.

1. Promote telemedicine and wearable devices for remote monitoring and early diagnosis.

3. Rural Health Focus: Establish more primary health centers and upgrade district hospitals to tertiary standards.

1. Retain skilled healthcare workers through better incentives and training programs.

Awareness Campaigns

1. Health Education: Promote campaigns about lifestyle diseases, mental health, and substance abuse prevention.

1. Mandate routine health checks starting at age 25 through national programs.

2. Preventive Screening Programs: Encourage regular screenings for individuals aged 40-60 for conditions like cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Recent Government Initiatives Ayushman Bharat: Provides health insurance to low-income families. National Health Mission: Focuses on universal healthcare. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Offers financial protection for secondary and tertiary care. PM National Dialysis Programme: Reduces costs for kidney disease treatment. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): Ensures free care for pregnant women and newborns. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): Addresses child health needs.

Benefits of Preventive Healthcare

1. Reduced Costs: Early detection reduces expensive treatments and hospitalizations.
2. Better Health Outcomes: Decreases death and suffering from chronic diseases.
3. Increased Productivity: A healthy workforce contributes to economic growth.

Conclusion

India faces a pivotal moment in its healthcare journey. By prioritizing preventive measures, strengthening infrastructure, and fostering awareness, the nation can alleviate the burden of chronic diseases, reduce healthcare costs, and ensure a healthier, more productive population. A robust focus on preventive healthcare is not just a necessity but a vital investment in India’s future, promising economic resilience and improved quality of life for its citizens.

 

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