Millions of Indians underwent traumatic experiences while seeking treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This strongly underlined the urgent need for two complementary streams of change in our healthcare system: strengthening public health services and regulating private healthcare providers. In the Indian context, no initiative for reforming the health sector will be complete without touching upon private healthcare, which accounts for around 70% of healthcare utilisation in the country.
The 2024 Forbes list of billionaires includes 200 Indians. Following manufacturing, the industry that contributes the second largest number of billionaires in India today (36), is healthcare, including pharmaceuticals. This number has increased every year, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Private healthcare in India is allowed to make high profits, because it is inadequately regulated and often charges patients exorbitant rates.
This setting underscores the relevance of policy recommendations contained in the recently published Jan Swasthya Abhiyan’s 18-point People’s Health Manifesto. It contains a wide range of inter-related policy recommendations covering diverse themes including public health services, the private healthcare sector, pharmaceutical policy, and the right to universal health care. Here, I briefly outline some key measures concerning the private healthcare sector in India.
