Inclusive Growth in Healthcare Sector - Can Government?

Nowhere is the idea of innovation for inclusive growth more important than in Healthcare.Budget 2011 has let down the healthcare sector,which has not seen anything concrete beyond the increase in allocation and the extension of health insurance to NREGA workers.Instead of taking important measures such as extending health insurance to all and augmenting the healthcare infrastructure and expanding an integrated healthcare system to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare,the government opts to bring services in air-conditioned hospitals into the tax net.While the proposal has been rolled back owing to protests,the step indicates a disturbing mindset.It appears to suggest that the common Indian must be excluded from any improvement in her life.The government must bear in mind that air-conditioning in hospitals is a necessity and not a luxury: it is required for a functioning operation theatre,it is needed for quality diagnostics.By its decision,the government seems to be condemning the Mango People to go to a hospital with substandard infrastructure.Instead,the government can focus on creating a health insurance policy that can help the Mango people afford a good quality private hospital one that is air-conditioned.

To make the promise of inclusive growth a reality,Government,in Partenrship with Industry,must adopt a metrics-driven approach,Aggressive Reforms Incetivise R&D in healthcare sector and not be deterred by any compulsion,political or otherwise.The solution lies in political will and robust leadership at all levels of the Industry and government.