Every year, December 12 marks Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, a global call to action to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access quality healthcare without financial hardship. While India has made notable strides in healthcare innovation and delivery, stark disparities between urban and rural areas remain a glaring obstacle.

Approximately 65% of India’s population resides in rural areas, yet only 25% of the country’s healthcare infrastructure serves these regions. As we observe UHC Day this year, it is critical to examine how to make quality healthcare not just accessible but also affordable in hinterland India—a challenge that requires systemic reform, innovative partnerships, and a shift in priorities.

The Rural Healthcare Paradox

India allocates approximately 1.9% of its GDP to healthcare—a figure significantly lower than global averages. Within this limited expenditure, urban areas enjoy the lion’s share of resources, with well-equipped hospitals, specialized care, and over 80% of the nation’s doctors concentrated in cities.

This imbalance contributes to devastating consequences. Rural India experiences higher rates of maternal and child mortality, untreated chronic diseases, and delayed diagnoses for conditions such as cancer and diabetes. In emergencies, the lack of nearby healthcare facilities forces rural residents to travel long distances, exacerbating both physical and financial burdens.

Moreover, 40% of total healthcare spending in India is on hospital care, while preventive care—arguably the foundation of good health—accounts for a mere 14%. This disproportionate emphasis on curative over preventive care worsens the plight of rural populations, where illnesses that could be prevented or managed early often escalate into costly hospitalizations. Furthermore, out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), which accounts for nearly 47% of total healthcare spending, frequently pushes families below the poverty line.

Public-Private Partnerships: The Need of the Hour

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have the potential to bridge the gap between rural healthcare needs and available resources. Collaborations between governments and private entities can enhance infrastructure, introduce innovative solutions, and bring much-needed expertise to underserved areas.

• Mobile Clinics: Mobile clinics, supported by private organizations and philanthropic trusts, are making significant inroads in rural India. These clinics, equipped with diagnostic tools and staffed by healthcare professionals, provide essential services such as vaccinations, maternal care, and disease screening. By bringing healthcare directly to communities, they minimize the need for costly travel to distant hospitals.
• Training and Retaining Rural Medical Staff: A critical challenge in rural healthcare is the scarcity of skilled medical professionals. PPPs can address this by offering incentives for doctors and nurses to work in rural areas, such as subsidized housing, financial bonuses, and opportunities for professional development.
• Digital Health Initiatives: Private health-tech companies, in partnership with state governments, can introduce telemedicine services that connect rural patients with urban specialists. Such initiatives enable timely consultations and diagnoses, reducing the need for physical visits to tertiary care centers.

Strengthening Primary Healthcare Systems

The backbone of accessible healthcare lies in primary healthcare systems. Yet, rural PHCs in India often operate with limited resources, outdated equipment, and skeletal staff. Strengthening these centers can transform rural health outcomes.

• The Ayushman Bharat Example: The government’s Ayushman Bharat initiative, launched in 2018, aims to establish 1,50,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. These centers are designed to provide a comprehensive range of services that go beyond conventional maternal and child healthcare to include preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care. While the program has gained momentum, a lack of private-sector participation limits its reach. Collaborative efforts can scale up such programs, ensuring wider accessibility.
• Technology Integration: Digitizing rural healthcare services can improve both efficiency and accessibility. Health-tech startups are already making inroads, offering online consultations and medicine delivery in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Expanding such services to rural areas, in partnership with local governments, can bridge the last-mile gap.

Also Read: Universal Health Coverage Day: Taming High Healthcare Costs and the Roadmap to Universal Access

As India moves toward its goal of ‘Health for All by 2030,’ the journey begins in the hinterlands, where the real heartbeat of the nation resides.

Views expressed by: Smriti Tandon, Co-founder, Online Chikitsa Mitra

Like 1

Dislike

Be a part of Elets Collaborative Initiatives. Join Us for Upcoming Events and explore business opportunities. Like us on Facebook , connect with us on LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter , Instagram.

"Exciting news! Elets technomedia is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest insights!" Click here!