Melvin Joseph, Grade 11

High School Finalist
Massachusetts

Healing India: Addressing the Inadequate and Inequitable Access to Healthcare

India's healthcare system is in crisis, with inadequate and inequitable access to healthcare as the most pressing developmental issue. Despite India's rapid economic growth, a significant portion of the population does not have access to basic healthcare services, leading to high mortality rates and poor maternal and child health. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the gaps in the Indian healthcare system and made it even more imperative to address this issue. This essay argues that a multi-faceted approach is needed to address this issue, including government and private sector involvement and support from individuals and groups both within and outside of India. 

One of the main reasons for the lack of healthcare access and quality in India is insufficient government funding and resources allocated to the healthcare sector. Public healthcare facilities are understaffed, under-equipped, and lack essential medicines and supplies, leading to long waiting times and inadequate treatment for patients, especially in rural areas. This issue is exacerbated by social and economic factors, with women, children, and marginalized communities facing significant barriers to accessing healthcare services. 

To address this issue, the Indian government must increase its funding and resources allocated to the healthcare sector and prioritize healthcare as a fundamental right. This includes increasing the number of healthcare facilities and trained healthcare professionals, improving the quality and availability of medicines and medical equipment, and implementing programs to address health inequities and social determinants of health. However, this alone may not be enough to address the issue of inadequate and inequitable access to healthcare. 

The private sector can play a crucial role in providing affordable and accessible healthcare services. Public-private partnerships can be established to improve healthcare infrastructure and provide innovative solutions to healthcare delivery. Mobile health clinics and telemedicine can be utilized to reach remote areas and provide healthcare services to underserved populations.

Non-profit organizations and social entrepreneurs can also play a role in addressing healthcare issues and advocating for policy change. In addition, American individuals and groups can be a part of the solution by supporting organizations and initiatives that work towards improving healthcare in India. 

Donations and funding can be provided to non-profit organizations that provide healthcare services and education to underserved communities. Advocacy and awareness-raising efforts can be undertaken to bring attention to the issue of healthcare in India and urge policymakers to take action. American healthcare professionals can also volunteer their time and expertise to provide medical treatment and training to healthcare professionals in India. 

While the Indian government has made efforts to improve healthcare access and quality, much more needs to be done. India spends only 1.3% of its GDP on healthcare, compared to the global average of 6%. According to a report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, India needs to increase its healthcare spending to at least 2.5% of GDP to achieve universal health coverage. However, increasing spending alone may not be sufficient, as the issue of healthcare inequity needs to be addressed. 

Healthcare inequity in India is primarily due to social and economic factors. Women, children, and marginalized communities such as Dalits and Adivasis face significant barriers to accessing healthcare services, such as living in remote areas with limited healthcare infrastructure, having low levels of education and literacy, and being discriminated against by healthcare providers. In addition, the high out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare pushes families into poverty and prevents them from seeking medical treatment. To address these issues, targeted policies and programs need to be implemented that target the social determinants of health and healthcare inequity. 

There are also cultural and religious factors that contribute to the current state of access to healthcare in India. For example, some communities in India still practice traditional healing methods instead of seeking medical treatment. In addition, there is a lack of trust in the healthcare system, with many individuals preferring to self-medicate or seek treatment from traditional healers. Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach that includes community engagement and education. Traditional healers can be integrated into the healthcare system and trained to provide safe and effective treatments, while community-based health education programs can increase awareness about the importance of seeking medical treatment and dispel myths and misconceptions about modern medicine. 

Ultimately, the issue of inadequate and inequitable access to healthcare in India requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach that includes increased government funding and resources, public-private partnerships, non-profit organizations, and individual efforts. Policies and programs must be implemented to address social and economic factors that contribute to healthcare inequity, such as poverty and discrimination, and to increase access to healthcare services for marginalized communities. Cultural and religious factors must also be addressed through community engagement and education. Students too have the potential to achieve significant social impact, for this issue and countless others affecting India. 

As someone from rural Southern India currently boarding at an international school in Massachusetts, I found ways to demonstrate leadership and find success in addressing healthcare disparities and raising awareness for stigmatized topics such as mental health and women’s health. Apart from leading our school’s Student Wellness Association, where we brought feminine healthcare products and organized wellness events for the student body, I started an initiative in collaboration with an educational organization to form Youth Education Collective. This community now has 40 Indian youth volunteers and a student community of 1100 international students, and some of our projects have been a women’s health art gallery in partnership with Period.org, a free therapy site for students, and personal health research and social media content. We have a podcast as well and are planning to launch a collaborative site with other youth-led educational organizations and individual leaders. In the end, by working together—the youth, national government, local organizations, and others seeking to correct India’s healthcare system and its widening effects—a more healthy and powerful India will be achieved: one that can lead the way to the achievement of resolution for such issues in other parts of the developing world.