An Overview of Healthcare Spending and Practice in India

Abstract

Healthcare is a service sector which touches billion of lives. Demand and supply of quality healthcare is a major concern for any country. Healthcare policy, practice and expenditure leads to holistic development of a society. This secondary data-based review paper makes a discussion on the pattern of government spending in Indian healthcare sector, availability of healthcare and medical expenditure status in rural and urban India and health coverage (health insurance) practice in India. It concludes that government spending in Indian healthcare sector is increasing although it is not enough, there is disparity regarding health infrastructure in between rural and urban India and people are considering health insurance in their priority list due to increasing cost of medical care. Policies are to be taken to ensure quality and equity in healthcare sector.