Merging innovation with healthcare - Practo

Abstract

Post-independence, the Indian government adopted a welfare state approach towards healthcare falling. Similar to Britain’s NHS, the healthcare infrastructure was conceived as a national health system with central and state governments financing, setting priorities and responsible for delivery. The Bhore report was built on a survey of British India and covered the entire nation. At that point, main issues came out to be malnutrition, infectious diseases, and sanitation. Similar to British NHS, two points were concluded upon - medical benefits would be available free of cost at delivery points (b) citizens who could bear the cost would channel their contributions through levying of taxes. The recommendations of the Bhore report were taken up in the First (1951—56) and Second (1956-61) Five-Year Plans. The priorities included provision of water supply, control of malaria, preventive healthcare for the rural population, and programs for mothers and children. The delivery of these services was accomplished through vertical programs such as the Malaria Control Programme. By focusing on vertical programs, the First Five-Year Plan established the precedent of specialization and verticality, rather than a horizontal integration and delivery of a broad range of services.