‘Health Isn’t Wealth’-An Indian Reality

An age old adage suggests that ‘Health is Wealth’, but unfortunately this is not the case in India. Health of an individual and consequently healthcare should ideally be non-negotiable, but health care in India is a relegated reality. There is no equity. There is no access to affordable healthcare. On one hand India is poised to become a medical tourism destination by 2020 while on the other hand the masses have no anchor. Health insurance can salvage the situation but somehow the concept is undersold and there is a very weak conviction even amidst the elite to buy adequate insurance. Most Indian households are either uninsured or underinsured. Out-of –pocket expenses on healthcare are thus on a rise. The authors draw attention on the Indian healthcare industry and suggest that lessons can be drawn from the models prevalent in Japan and Netherlands. The authors build a strong case for a mandatory health insurance for the masses and propose a model for the same.