Indian Healthcare: The Malady of Political and Public Indifference
Abstract
Health often fails to figure prominently on the political agenda of countries. The United States provides an example of how ineffective political will and public pressure can impede achievement of universal health care, creating distortions such as provider dominance in the health system and expensive, specialty-centric health care. In India, years of government under-investment in health and lacking civic engagement have paved the way for private sector dominance and undermining of community-based primary care, which could be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thailand’s journey to universal health coverage offers lessons in political commitment and civic participation in health. Such lessons cannot always be emulated by others owing to path-dependent characteristics of systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, can be an opportunity to break path dependence and mobilize various quarters for lasting reforms in Indian healthcare.
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