India's poor health

A key reason behind the poor health of the average Indian is the low level of preventive health facilities such as sanitation and waste management, as well as in medical care facilities such as primary health centres and health professionals. According to a 2010 World Bank estimate, India loses 6% of its gross domestic product (GDP) annually because of premature deaths and preventable illnesses.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) identified India’s poor health outcomes as one of our major developmental challenges. India is a laggard in health outcomes not just by OECD standards, but also by the standards of the developing world. In 2012, India witnessed 253 deaths per 100,000 persons due to communicable diseases alone, much higher than the global average of 178. India faces a higher disease burden than other emerging economies such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and Sri Lanka. Even poorer neighbours such as Nepal and Bangladesh have a better record in health compared to India.

Even when public health facilities are available, they are often of poor quality. The poorest income classes receive fewer benefits from the public health system than their better-off peers. The lack of reliable public health services and the absence of health insurance compel the poor to spend heavily on private medical care. According to a 2011 research paper by Soumitra Ghosh of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, out-of-pocket health expenditures account for nearly one-sixth of India’s poverty burden. The high costs of healthcare also act as a deterrent for poor people in seeking treatment, leading to delays and aggravating health problems.

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