A review of literature to understand the complexity of equity, ethics and management for achieving public health goals in India.
In the context of inadequate public spending on health care in India (0.9% of the GDP); government liberalized its policies in the form of subsidized lands and tax incentives, resulting in the mushrooming of private hospitals and clinics in India. Paradoxically, a robust framework was not developed for the regulation of these health care providers, resulting in disorganized health sector, inadequate financing models, and lack of prioritization of services, as well as a sub-optimal achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). We systematically reviewed the evidence base regarding regulation of private hospitals, applicability of private-public mix, state of health insurance and effective policy development for India, while seeking lessons on regulation of private health systems, from South African (a developing country) and Australian (a developed country) health care systems.
Fellow, Community Paediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW and Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney , Australia .
Pankaj
P
Garg
Attending Consaltant, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research , New Delhi, India .
Jitender
J
Nagpal
Child; Ethics; Health policies; Health regulation; Private health sector; Survival