Key messages
Address major shortcomings
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Low per person spending that results in very high private out-of-pocket expenditures on health
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Large inefficiencies in public and private sectors that reduce efficiency and effectiveness of health expenditures
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Insufficiency of services to address the health needs
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Practically no financial protection for most Indian people against medical expenditures
Policy responses needed
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Ensure achievement of government's commitment to increase public spending on health from less than 1% to 3% of gross domestic product
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Improve quality, performance, efficiency, and accountability of public and private health systems
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Introduce policy and legislative changes to contain the rising costs of medical care and drugs
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Increase availability of health services through direct expansion of public health services and by enlisting private providers of allopathic and non-allopathic drugs
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Increase insurance and risk pooling to include financial protection
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Introduce a predominantly tax-paid universal medical insurance plan that offers essential coverage to all citizens