"Let us be the ones who say we do not accept that a child dies every three seconds simply because he does not have the drugs you and I have. Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right to life. Let us be outraged, let us be loud, let us be bold." These lines were quoted by famous American actor Brad Pitt, but it is something that we all need to ponder upon.

Healthcare is a field that focuses on providing various medical services that aim at preventing, diagnosing, assessing, treating and managing various diseases and ailments, to help people lead better and healthier life. World Health Organization, however, pointed out that the definition of health is not merely limited to the absence of a disease or ailment, but it rather encompasses all aspects of physical, mental & psychological well-being, and this led to great change in the existing strategy of healthcare.

Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Amartya Sen advocated many reforms revolving around universal health coverage and immunization, which further highlighted the importance of investing in primary health care. It was at this point the government realized that they cannot turn a blind eye towards the issue and that it was high time to direct the finances towards improving healthcare in India.

Over the past decades, we have reached many milestones, yet we cannot deny the fact that India is still a developing country and there are many hurdles and challenges that need to be overcome. Healthcare, too, has seen commendable developments. It is now possible to treat diseases that were once perceived to be incurable. People with cancer now have a chance to lead a healthier life and we can alleviate the risks of many life-threatening conditions. The infrastructure of healthcare has been fortified at every level, with the advent of innovative technologies and new-age equipment. Emphasis is laid on the safety and maintenance of all the equipment, ensuring minimal risks of error. Every intervention is backed by precision and accuracy.

We cannot say that Healthcare in India is perfect as there are still many loopholes, but it is surely better than what it used to be, clearly suggesting that we are on the path to success. There has been criticism in the past and we may again face it in the future, however, this coils also be owing to the fact that there is a lack of proper promotion and people are not informed about various health policies that have been curated for them. Instead of being defensive, we should rather take it as an opportunity to improvise.

Growth in the health sector

Ever since the late 1990s, healthcare in India has seen many ups and downs. Despite the limitations in practical knowledge at that time, there has been a significant decline in mortality rates related to various diseases and ailments. We have faced many epidemics and healthcare challenges, starting from the heat wave, the 1999 super cyclone, increased road traffic accidents and even the Covid Pandemic. But, all thanks to the vigilance and spontaneous action of all the professionals in the healthcare sector, including the administrative section and the paramedics.

Even during the time of Covid-19, when the whole world lived under the fear of getting infected, our healthcare administrators were busy with the creation of dedicated Covid hospitals backed by leading-edge modalities that helped to ensure unparalleled care and safety. Covid vaccination and testing centres have been set up in every area, where stringent protocols are followed to alleviate the risks of infection. This is a live example of the robust commitment, depicted by our government and healthcare officials, and they truly deserve to be praised for it.

The Government's endeavour received global appreciation.

Let's now talk about individual Healthcare facilities and various developments in that direction. Hospital setup has become much more advanced with the availability of dedicated units for every speciality. You can find specialised Intensive Care Units, Surgical Units, Cath labs, HDU and SNCU facilities in almost all hospitals at secondary and tertiary levels. These are fully equipped to handle critically ill patients and cater to their needs.

Another great development in the field of Healthcare is public-private partnership i.e. PPP, which has made it possible to bring together the finest investigative facilities without putting additional financial pressure on the government.

Boost to government facilities

Although they had been great progress in the field of health care we cannot generalize. There are still many hospitals that need upliftment in terms of services, facilities and technology. There is a need for policies that had to bring about a positive and systematic change with long-term impact. The focus should not only be late on providing better medical facilities but offering a better work environment to all the employees and staff, to help them give their best. A good healthcare facility not only depends upon the doctors and the nurses but encompasses all the facilities. Healthcare professionals should be made familiar with new technologies and interventions for unparalleled outcomes.