Will 2019 boost healthcare?

An election year comes up for the country, but will it bring better tidings in healthcare for citizens? Governments, including the present one, have promised an increase in health spends to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2025. But the need for affordable healthcare delivery systems, medicines and medical devices is being felt acutely across the country. Public hospitals are swamped by people even as they struggle with inadequate medical equipment. Private hospitals are priced out of reach for many ordinary citizens, with the absence of a robust health insurance cover forcing many to look for alternatives to fund treatment. The Government has put its might behind Ayushman Bharat and the coming year will test its usefulness on the ground. Even as the health segment sees many ongoing cases, the coming year will address fresh issues, involving online pharmacies, for instance.