Critical Appraisal of the National Health Protection Scheme and Way Forward: A Novel Approach about Healthcare in India

This study aims to bring out the in-depth finer points of the debate related to public versus private provision of the healthcare in a developing country set up. The paper also aims to provide suggestions for incorporating them in the new health insurance scheme of India, the Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme. In most emerging economies, the key healthcare issues are its access and delivery. Further, there is double burden of care arising out of communicable and growing chronic diseases. The prevailing healthcare systems in these economies are one of complete dominance of the private healthcare providers. These provisions, however, have been found to be inequitable and inefficient. The majority of government health insurance programmes in India, despite their grandeur, have had little effect. It has been shown that the results are significantly better in areas with sufficient public healthcare resources. This conundrum has been attempted to be addressed in the policy wordings of Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance's new healthcare system in India. In order to make the public health insurance schemes effective, the healthcare industry needs total restructuring based on re-strengthening of the public healthcare system.

The focus of health schemes should revolve around the provisions of cheap and quality public health infrastructure in rural areas and more pro-vision for outpatient and primary care than the secondary and tertiary care.