Could the rapid expansion of medical education and healthcare financing unintentionally contribute to over-treatment in India? India has made significant efforts to expand access to healthcare. The number of medical colleges, postgraduate seats, super-specialty programs, hospitals, health insurance schemes, and government-funded treatment programs has increased substantially. But there is another question that deserves serious discussion: When healthcare capacity expands rapidly, does it always translate into better patient care—or can it sometimes create incentives for unnecessary investigations, treatments, and even surgeries?
This is not an argument against producing more doctors or expanding healthcare access. India clearly needs a strong and accessible healthcare system. The concern is about what happens when financial incentives, institutional targets, insurance reimbursements,…
