Consider the following statements:
- Statement-I: India’s public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.
- Statement-II: Under India’s decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
- Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
- Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct
- India’s public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care. This approach has led to several challenges and missed opportunities for improving public health outcomes.
- For example, over the past 40 years, India has experienced a significant shift in its health landscape, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) becoming the country’s biggest health crisis. NCDs, including heart diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, now account for around 66% of all deaths in India (2019 data), up from 25% in 1990. These diseases contribute to a substantial economic burden, with costs projected to reach ₹511 lakh crore ($6.2 trillion) by 2030. Preventive healthcare can significantly mitigate the impact of NCDs.Measures such as adult vaccinations, regular health analysis, healthy lifestyle choices, and early screening can prevent a substantial portion of NCD-related deaths. Despite the clear benefits, India’s healthcare system has been slow to adopt a preventive approach, largely focusing on treating diseases rather than preventing them.
Statement 2 is correct
- Under India’s decentralized healthcare delivery approach, the states are primarily responsible for organizing health services. The Constitution of India obliges the government to ensure the “right to health” for all. Right to health is an integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Each state is required to provide free universal access to healthcare services.
