India has almost one-fifth of the world’s population and has more deaths of children aged five and under — close to 12.5 lakh every year — the highest in the world. Further, one-third world’s cases of diseases such as TB, premature CVDs and diabetes originate from India. Peer-reviewed UK medical journal The Lancet, in an analysis of India’s annual budget, has questioned why healthcare for all citizens is not a priority for the state and the central governments . In an article titled ‘Accounting for the future of health in India’, the journal said that different government agencies in the country need to collaborate to deal with challenges in its healthcare system.
The study has given impetus to conversations already going on among country’s health activists and experts. Globally, everyone believes India’s public spending on health care should increase . What India needs is a unique,…
