The private/public mix in health care in India

Private hospitals and private medical practitioners play a significantpart in delivering health care services in India. As the demandfor health care has increased, institutions in this sector haveexpanded widely in both urban and rural areas. The relationshipbetween patient and private practitioner considerably influencesthe perceived and actual needs about health care. This relationshipis expected to play an important role in the control of diseasepatterns and management. However, the developments in this sectorhave prompted concern about the efficiency of resources, equityand access to facilities, and the availability of financingmechanisms to support private health care. Also, the efficiencywith which the resources are used in this sector has directbearing on the cost and quality of services. The existence ofthese health care institutions therefore has profound implicationsfor the present character of the Indian health care system,and its future course. The objectives of the present study are to review the role ofthe private health care sector in India and the policy concernsit engenders. The discussion suggests that policy makers inIndia should take serious note of the growing influence of theprivate sector in providing health care in India. Policy interventionsin health should not ignore their existence and this sectorshould be explicitly involved in the health management process.It is argued that regulatory and supportive policy interventionsare inevitable to promote this sector's viable and appropriatedevelopment.