GS Mains Model Question & Answer : NITI-Aayog plan to effectively privatise the district hospital in TIER-1 and TIER-2 towns. Analyse? Comment
GS Mains Model Question & Answer : NITI-Aayog plan to effectively privatise the district hospital in TIER-1 and TIER-2 towns. Analyse? Comment
Q. NITI-Aayog plan to effectively privatise the district hospital in TIER-1 and TIER-2 towns. Analyse? Comment
Model Answer:
NITI-Aayog plan to effectively privatise the district hospital in TIER-1 and TIER-2 towns. Analyse?
It is based on 5 premises:
a) District hospitals need upgrading to provide good quality secondary care
and some elements of tertiary care to reduce dependence on and overcrowding of
medical college hospitals and corporate hospitals.
b) Dealing with Non –communicable disease which is increasing .
c) To balance the technical and manpower expert to deal with.
d) Incentivised private sector investment and participation in care delivery in
such hospitals can fill this gap.
e) The proposed PPP model can function smoothly with shared facilities and dual
payment system.
Criticism:
a) There is a doubt on the 4th premise that whether private investment should
be preferred approach to strengthen the district hospitals
b) Private players are free to charge full treatment cost from patients not
covered by govt schemes (such as RSBY) and the providers would be reimbursed by
the govt for treating patiens referred by the govt.
c) Private players will be able to cherry pick the most lucrative districts
where patients have a higher paying capacity.
d) Defeating the objective of national health policy.
Suggestion:
Need to enhance investment by the govt directly in public healthcare.
Training of health workers.
Better regulation of public health care facilities with better infrastructure as
it benefits the whole society instead of thinking in economic gains.