Preventive healthcare has gained renewed attention in India amid rising non-communicable diseases and escalating medical costs. Despite spending about 2% of GDP on health, India largely focuses on curative care. This approach strains households and the healthcare system. Shifting to prevention can reduce expenses and improve productivity.
Current Healthcare Spending and Challenges
India spends a small fraction of its GDP on health. Most resources go to treating illnesses after they occur. This reactive model burdens families financially and reduces workforce efficiency. Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer cause 63% of deaths. India has the second-largest diabetic population globally, costing over ₹1.5 lakh crore annually. Cervical cancer kills more than 75,000 women yearly but is largely preventable.
Economic Benefits of Preventive Healthcare
Preventive care can save vast sums by reducing treatment costs and improving productivity. The World Health Organization estimates that every $1 invested in prevention returns $7 in benefits in developing countries. Reduced hospital visits and fewer sick days boost economic output. Kerala’s K-DPP cardiac prevention programme cut cardiovascular risk by 32% over ten years, demonstrating measurable health and financial gains.
Reasons for Neglecting Prevention
Behavioural economics explains why prevention is overlooked. Present bias causes people to prioritise immediate savings over long-term health benefits. Spending on check-ups feels costly now, while benefits seem distant. Healthcare providers also favour curative care because it generates more revenue through surgeries and treatments. Prevention services like counselling are less profitable and harder to quantify, skewing incentives towards treatment.
Systemic Barriers and Solutions
The healthcare ecosystem rewards treatment over prevention. Low awareness and poor incentives limit preventive care uptake. To address this, government policies must incentivise prevention and raise public awareness. Corporate health programmes should invest in proactive care. Insurance schemes need to cover preventive screenings. Encouraging early health management benefits individuals and the economy.
Long-Term Vision for Health Management
Investing in prevention aligns with economic and social goals. Keeping people healthy reduces medical expenses and sustains productivity. Shifting focus from illness management to health promotion requires cultural and systemic change. Prioritising prevention is essential for a sustainable and resilient healthcare system in India.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically analyse the economic impact of non-communicable diseases on India’s healthcare system and productivity. With suitable examples, suggest measures to mitigate these impacts.
- Comment on the role of behavioural economics in shaping public health decisions. How can policy interventions overcome present bias to promote preventive healthcare?
- Explain the concept of preventive healthcare and its significance in reducing healthcare costs. What are the challenges faced by healthcare providers in implementing preventive care in India?
- What are the advantages and limitations of government and corporate initiatives in promoting preventive healthcare? Critically analyse how insurance coverage can influence health outcomes in India.
