Why I am afraid tha t Modicare will fail The idea of free universal healthcare is an attractive mirage being sold to gullible voters in the pre-election year. In life, there are no free lunches and someone always has to pay. The National Health Accounts published by the Union Health Ministry had revealed that Indians spend 3 lac crores as out of pocket expenses in Private as well as government healthcare facilities in 2014-15. This expenditure is over and above payments made by insurers and what the central and state governments spend on healthcare of their citizens.
It is unclear whether this figure includes what Indians spend on various quacks, babas, and charlatans who appear on TV with a cure for everything. Conservatively cumulative cost of healthcare in India paid for by Indians and their government including the insurers would be upwards of 5 lac crores now. There is also a…
