UPSC Mains 2015 · GS II · Q12 · 12.5 marks · 200 words

Public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that the private sector could help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives would you suggest?

हिन्दी में

सार्विक स्वास्थ्य संरक्षण प्रदान करने में सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य प्रणाली की अपनी परिसीमाएँ हैं। क्या आपके विचार में खाई को पाटने में निजी क्षेत्रक सहायक हो सकता है? आप अन्य कौन-से व्यवहार्य विकल्प सुझाएँगे?

Health

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “To address the limitations of the public health system, how can the private sector contribute effectively to bridging the gap to ensure equitable and accessible healthcare for all? Discuss.”

Farkhanda QureshiAIR 67 · CSE 2024 · 188 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Health system does not just connote physical health, but also mental, emotional & palliative health care aspects.

Body · points

Limitations of public health system

  1. Out of pocket expenditure is very high at 65%.
  2. Doctor to patient ratio is inadequate at 20 doctor/1000 patients.
  3. Lack of tertiary & secondary health services in public hospitals (rural ones).
  4. Divide between rural & urban area: 70% of rural population in India has just 30% of the country's doctors (via-versa for urban area).

⑤. Health care is for curative rather than preventive. ⑥. Health expenditure → only 1.5% of GDP.

Private sector participation can help address the gap –

① Fill the gap of doctors, nurses ② Bring new expertise of technology & skills to the public sector ③ Complement & enhance the capacity of public health care. ④ Improve R & D in health → Vaccine in covid 19 → made by private sector (Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech).

Close · a way forward

Some concern of private sector are profit maximisation, introduction of new class of service & reservation.

The government can legislate a PPP framework to delineate the work of public & private sector.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper II, Q12. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.