Why should India invest more in public health

World Health Organization (WHO) define, health as the attainment of physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity and Public health is defined as the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This can be done by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases. The main purposes of public health comprise of management of critical matters related to health; determining research agenda and communication of valuable knowledge; setting standards and promoting and observing their enactment; enunciating ethical- and evidence-based policy alternatives; and monitoring the health situation and set up new health trends.

Globalisation, unforeseen urbanisation, rapid change in climate challenged public health in the 21^st century. Our country is experiencing demographic, environmental, and an epidemiological evolution, where along with infectious diseases; populations are also facing the effects of chronic non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and pulmonary diseases that are now the leading cause of death. Imminent pandemics of influenza and emerging infections, as of Covid -19 that are mostly zoonotic require special attention and rapid response. As the Indian government struggles to provide health coverage broadly, the country’s healthcare system always remains an area of concern, especially in rural areas. There are differences in health care systems in rural and urban areas. Public health in India demands a broad multispectral commitment as massive populations; especially those living in rural and remote areas, brawl to bear out basic health care needs, with the poor in the society are the worst sufferers. In 2015, India and other 194 countries of the world agreed on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covering all aspects of human development. One relates specifically to health and well-being, while many other goals too indirectly affect and address facets of public health.

There are many misconceptions and myths regarding public health like public health attention is as same as providing medical or clinical care, the health of the people can be improved only by building many big hospitals, only doctors can improve public health and paramedical or other staff are not of much importance, disease prevention and health promotion is inexpensive and hence involve fewer resources etc., as a result not being given the priority to public health even today.

According to National Health Profile data, India’s investment in public health is just 1.28% of the gross domestic product (GDP). This is among the lowest of all countries in Asia. If we combine both public and private expenditure on healthcare, it is merely 3.6%. According to the World Bank, India ranks 24th in the world from the bottom. Countries like Afghanistan, Libya, Myanmar, Yemen and Sri Lanka having low economy then India spend more on healthcare.

A huge investment is needed to uplift and promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent diseases, reinforce disease surveillance programs, and augment research capabilities in the country. Nevertheless, India has launched many pioneering policies such as Ayushman Bharat, antimicrobial resistance policy, and digital health, but then again India is deficient of an adequate health workforce especially public health professionals.  The pervasive occurrence of Ebola, SARS, influenza pandemics and dengue perennially need the establishment of highly competent public healthcare facilities in the country.

The government should upsurge public health infrastructure, be responsible for providing additional health care workers, and also restrain the intemperate damage that privatization has caused to public health in recent years. Investing in public health is, thus, not only a necessity but also a moral responsibility. A vigorous public health system is needed to protect populations from the risk and complications related to health, and to ensure impartiality and integrity so that everyone has unbiased access to good quality health services throughout the country.