PPPs will help in bridging treatment gap, enhance care delivery in India.

Dr. Shravan Subramanyam

05 Apr 2022,

The Government's focus on digitization over the past few years has enabled enhanced delivery of healthcare in India, increasing capacity and efficiency in the sector. There has been an 85% surge in teleconsultation, and digital platforms have eased accessibility to crucial healthcare solutions, supported by the National Digital Health Mission. This has evolved the way we look at healthcare challenges, and has presented India with an opportunity to address issues at the grassroots level. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme and the draft paper on Medical Devices Manufacturing Policy 2022 will further promote domestic manufacturing of medical devices that will help deepen access to quality and affordable healthcare solutions.

The Government has extended support for local manufacturing of medical equipment with an aim to increase healthcare expenditure to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2025. The Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative provides further impetus to the industry to develop and enhance healthcare infrastructure with continued technological upgradation. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) will help increase access to healthcare and improve patient outcomes. PPPs bring together the expertise and finances of the private sector with the access and subsidies of the public sector. It can bring in resources the Government needs for its healthcare goals, as well as create a sustainable long-term model. The need for PPPs is further underlined considering the layout of medical infrastructure in India. According to a report by Niti Aayog, 60% of medical infrastructure is densely populated across metropolitan cities. Addressing this, private hospital chains are increasingly expanding beyond the metros to tier-2 and -3 cities. Private players are also seeking accreditation and developing new healthcare models at an increasing rate. PPPs will also help address the shortage of skilled workers by establishing programmes to up skill the health workforce with the ability to adapt to technological advancements......