One year into the office, all the celebrations of Barack Obama presidency have been evaporated. Obama ratings are diving very fast. While many of the problems of Obama presidency are George Bush legacy, Health care reform is one of the main reasons for Obama's presidential crisis. The battle is now raging all across the United States and deeply dividing republicans and democrats. Obama's intentions might be genuine but the nation is not prepared to take on the powerful trillion dollar health care (and the insurance) industry. The problem how to fund the cost of health care?
If you had seen the famous - Michael Moore's SICKO documentary, it graphically illustrates the health care crisis in USA and how citizens go bankrupt, unable to pay for the health care bills and even after having insurance policies. The problem is, again funding.
I lived in Europe for long time. In countries like United Kingdom, NHS is a "free" national medical care system. But it is supported by the tax payers money. In it's 60 years NHS has seen seen many ups and downs, but of late NHS is in deep crisis. Again reason is funding. As a nation UK is not in a position to support this huge public sector enterprise with national debt hovering @13% of GDP, and that is still growing.
Probably this is the case with most of the countries including France, which is considered having one of the best public health care system (even according to Moore). Having spotted the strain in the public finances, already Health care industry is making in roads into European Public health systems. To ease pressure on governments, essentially this industry is looking for privatisation.
It might look strange, while USA wanted to move towards a free or affordable health care, the European Countries are moving towards US style, "insurance" based private health care. In either case the key question is funding, let it be government (Tax payers) or individuals.
In what ever direction US or Europe move - there is no question that health care is going to be the biggest challenge on the key question who will fund?
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I was speaking to one of my nephew recently. He is just too elated that his IT company is paying him the Health Insurance. As it is typical of Indians - he included his parents who are NOT eligible for these policies and started enjoying the 5 star hospital's. He is just under 30!. He goes for regular health checks and even for small illness, his car would only drive him to the so called corporate hospitals. He is one of the 0.05% of the Indian society who could enjoy this luxury.
India is a billion plus people nation. Health care industry is a huge business. Global Health care, Pharma and Insurance industries are eyeing India for some time. In the past 10-15 years, corporate Health care mushroomed across India. The future of small time hospitals and local doctors who used to treat patients and normal deceases is in jeopardy. Even the class C towns are in in the grip of this corporate hospitals culture. While most cannot effort, but there is no option if you are unfortunate.
While 0.05% class is not bothered since they have luxury as long as they hold on to the job, remaining 99.5% population have to fund their health care on their own. Despite the changing lifestyles, by and large Indians are healthy until now. Most of the Indians are immune to the costly deceases like cancers, kidney or liver ailments. But in the next 5-10 years all this is going to change. With Pizza's replacing idlis and Burgers replacing Roti's we see a huge pool of Indians entering their middle ages with host of life style and related health problems.
Who will fund? As more corporate hospitals mushroom, with insurance and health care industry taking a grip on the patients funding - India is accelerating to join US and Europe. While Western Governments are struggling to find a solution, Indian government cannot effort any funding for for it's billion plus citizens.
My nephew or his friend, or his servant or his grocer - all are sailing in the same boat. It is a dreadful scenario to imagine but, I think India and Indians will have to face it inevitably - health care timebomb.
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