Treat health as a public good, not a market opportunity
The article advocates for treating health as a public good rather than a market opportunity, particularly in South Asia. It highlights the region's significant burden of preventable illness, malnutrition, and high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), which pushes families into poverty. Citing India's rising OOPE and relatively low public share of health expenditure compared to countries like Sri Lanka, it argues for sustained public investment in healthcare infrastructure, primary care, medical education, and research. The article emphasizes that robust public health systems are crucial for productivity, resilience, human dignity, and regional preparedness against challenges like outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance, urging governments to prioritize equitable, affordable care.
The article advocates for treating health as a public good rather than a market opportunity, particularly in South Asia. It highlights the region's significant burden of preventable illness, malnutrition, and high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), which pushes families into poverty. Citing India's rising OOPE and relatively low public share of health expenditure compared to countries like Sri Lanka, it argues for sustained public investment in healthcare infrastructure, primary care, medical education, and research. The article emphasizes that robust public health systems are crucial for productivity, resilience, human dignity, and regional preparedness against challenges like outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance, urging governments to prioritize equitable, affordable care.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 2: Social Justice (Health, Human Resources, Welfare Schemes); GS Paper 3: Indian Economy (Government Budgeting, Social Sector Spending); Essay: Topics related to public health, social welfare, role of the state in healthcare.
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Social Justice & Development come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.
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