Context :
Indians are facing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer account for 65% of deaths (2022), up from 50% (2010-13).
Relevance: GS 3 (Health)
India is experiencing a dual healthcare challenge:
- Rising Life Expectancy with Increasing Disease Burden:
- Escalating Healthcare Costs: Rising healthcare expenses, driven by late diagnoses and costly treatments, are straining household finances and the national healthcare system.
- India’s healthcare spending remains inadequate, despite an increase in the 2024 Union Budget, necessitating a shift toward preventive healthcare to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.
Key Challenges:
Prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases:
- 1 in 4 adult men is hypertensive; 1 in 8 adults is diabetic.
- Early-onset cancers like breast, lung, and cervical cancer are rising.
- Late diagnoses worsen outcomes and increase treatment costs.
Financial Burden on Individuals and the System:
- Household expenditure still drives 50%+ of health spending.
- WHO estimates NCDs will cost India ₹280 lakh crore by 2030 (₹2 lakh per household), impacting financial stability for middle- and low-income families.
Underinvestment in Preventive Healthcare:
- Preventive health checks (₹8,000–₹15,000 in metro cities) are expensive.
- The tax deduction for preventive care (₹5,000) under Section 80D has been stagnant since 2013, despite 12-14% healthcare inflation.
Policy Gaps:
Limited Early Diagnosis Infrastructure:
- Inadequate focus on scaling low-cost screening facilities.
- Insufficient integration of AI tools for targeted screenings in public health systems.
Low Awareness and Adoption of Preventive Care:
- Lack of public campaigns emphasizing early screening for high-risk groups.
Inefficient Financial Incentives:
- Outdated tax policies fail to encourage preventive healthcare uptake.
Recommendations
Expand Preventive Care Initiatives:
- Scale up Ayushman Health and Wellness Centres with AI-enabled imaging for low-cost screenings.
- Encourage routine screenings (e.g., mammograms, cardiac tests) for individuals aged 40-60 through subsidies and public-private partnerships.
Revise Financial Policies:
- Increase the Section 80D tax deduction for preventive health checks to ₹15,000 in the 2025-26 Union Budget.
- Allocate funds from healthcare cess or GST on harmful products (e.g., tobacco, sugar) to subsidize preventive health services.
Enhance Private Sector Participation:
- Incentivize insurers and healthcare providers to offer subsidized screening packages for high-risk individuals.
Boost Public Awareness:
- Nationwide campaigns to emphasize the importance of early detection and periodic health checks.
Potential Impact
- Reduced Disease Burden: Early detection can lower mortality rates and reduce the need for expensive late-stage treatments.
- Cost Savings: Preventive care can save households and the government significant healthcare expenses over time.
- Economic Productivity: A healthier workforce will enhance economic growth and reduce productivity losses.
Conclusion
India’s growing healthcare crisis calls for urgent action to prioritize preventive care. By increasing investments in screenings, revising tax policies, and enhancing public awareness, the nation can mitigate the dual burden of rising diseases and healthcare costs, ensuring a healthier and economically resilient future.
