Despite being hailed as a hub for medical tourism, it is found that in India for most Indians, healthcare is becoming increasingly unaffordable, owing to rising cost of treatment in recent years. Critically examine why and suggest what interventions are needed to address this dichotomy. (200 Words)

Though earning a distinct reputation for affordable healthcare in the world, the challenges in making the healthcare affordable to people at large are many.

1. Health infrastructure at lower level is inadequate. The number of Sub centres, Primary Health Centres per 1,00,000 person is very low.

2. Even with the existing infrastructure, there are faults in management of resources. Though there are about 9 lakh ASHA employees, still 100% immunisation is not being reached. There is a need for improved human resource management. Poor personnel management in government run hospitals.

3. Free medicines and other medical equipments are often diverted to black market.

4. Poor coverage of health insurance is one of the reason for several people falling below BPL once they fall ill. At present it is a meagre 17% which needs to be enhanced substantially and in ideal case there should be universal coverage.

5. Preventive healthcare is not much stressed upon. Vaccination, Sanitation, nutrition, safe drinking water supply will ensure there is less burden on health infrastructure for curative purposes.

Transparency, human resource management, enhancing health insurance coverage, emphasising on preventive healthcare and vigilant public can ensure that healthcare is affordable while at the time, raising further the scope of inbound medical tourism.