Medical journal slams Indian health system

The latest editorial in leading medical journal Lancet has severely criticised the health systems in India. Even as India sees a huge number of patients pouring into public and private hospitals, there is barely any research undertaken in the country related to health. 

“India vastly underperforms in terms of quality clinical research. Only 1.5 per cent of global clinical trials are done in India; and between 2005-14, fewer than half the medical colleges in the country published a single research article,” the editorial states. 

It goes on to say that publicly financed universal health coverage (UHC) has been discussed since the dawn of the nation and recommended by domestic and external stakeholders. 

As recently as 2011, progressive universalism was included in the government’s five-year plan, but was never funded. UHC entails free health facilities for all.

The report says that given the popular uptake of universal health coverage reforms elsewhere in Asia, the February 4 Punjab elections may be a tipping point for health in India. For example, in 2012, Joko Widodo was elected Governor of Jakarta. He launched popular UHC reforms in the capital and two years later was elected president. 

In 2016, voters in the US and the UK supported politicians prepared to act on the concerns of the electorate. If health becomes a populist cause in India rather than a political inconvenience, then the country might finally be liberated to achieve health outcomes commensurate with its economic and technical achievements.

India comprises 17 per cent of the world’s population and has more deaths of children aged five and under, close to 12.5 lakh every year, which is dispropotionately higher than any other country.

Also, a third of the world’s cases for diseases such as tuberculosis, premature cardiovascular diseases and diabetes originate from India. The editorial says the Indian government is ‘oblivious’ to these facts. 

“Government expenditure on health is one of the lowest in the world at 1.4 per cent of gross domestic product. Because states have responsibility for health, the upcoming elections will raise the importance of access to quality, affordable health care in India, regardless of the electoral outcome. It is a debate that needs to be fostered.”