Making NHPM work (Modicare healthcare scheme 2018)

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Making NHPM work (Modicare healthcare scheme 2018)

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Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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• The crucial link: The PM announced that 25th Sept would see the launch of NHPM, a final recognition of the link between economic development and health care.
• A right to health? In India, despite the poor stifled by medical costs, this hasn’t become a political issue at all. The National Health Policy doesn’t recommend a “right” as it can’t be fulfilled. Also, it is understood that a nation of 130 crores cannot use household savings to pay for healthcare 
• SECC to be used: 10 crore families, chosen through the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), will benefit. These are the identified urban workers, and the rural poor. Rates for treatments will be fixed already, and state govt. agencies will tieup with many hospitals (private also) for the same.
• Three fundamental problems: 

1. A very large scale I.T. infrastructure is needed   [ we have had the GST experience recently ] 
2. Treatment costs have to be mutually decided, not forced one-way 
3. Administrative upgradation of rural hospitals (secondary and tertiary infra) is needed

• India is not one India, from the health perspective: We have many Indias, due to different development levels across regions, and different disease burdens. So the NHPM will face 3 basic issues right from the start – hospitals’ locations, HR, cost-sharing finances.
• Health spending: Plans are to raise public health spending to 2.5% of GDP, and 8% of state budgets. As our economy grows, will politicians be able to give enormous new funds to meet this goal? If they do, new skills and jobs will be created.
• A short term solution: All said and done, this private-sector route (in NHPM) is a short term solution. We need a drastic overhaul in public health infra, as private insurance can be very risky due to unethical practices. An ombudsman is needed for NHPM, as well as OOP expenses reduction.
• Summary : The NHPM is a good start, but private insurance funded healthcare will have limited utility, and a genuine solution will only be a massively upgraded government healthcare system.

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