India is a low-income country and is home to over 1.4 billion people. Its population is growing rapidly, yet its healthcare system faces many problems (Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations). This paper will examine the burden of disease in India, with a focus on how the burden has shifted over the past 10-15 years and the epidemiological transition the country has experienced. Further, it will discuss the health system in India and make a case for addressing a single health issue of national importance.
India has seen a significant decrease in the number of deaths caused by communicable diseases such as malaria and viral hepatitis due to improved access to vaccines and better hygiene. However, infectious and non-communicable diseases still remain a significant health concern in India. Non-communicable diseases such as ischemic heart disease, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and diabetes are India’s leading causes of death. Their mortality burden has increased drastically over the last few years (Mensah et al., 2529). Despite this, infectious and parasitic diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV are still common causes of death, but their mortality burden is declining. Thus, while the number of deaths due to infectious diseases is decreasing, non-communicable diseases continue contributing to India’s disease burden.
In the past decade, the disease burden in India has shifted from predominantly communicable infant and maternal diseases to non-communicable diseases and diseases of old age. This shift can be attributed to several factors, including improved public health interventions, better access to healthcare, and increased lifestyle-related risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets. Additionally, India is faced with the dual burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases due to high levels of poverty and inequality (Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations). The burden of non-communicable diseases is much more significant in urban compared to rural. Moreover, the rapid urbanization in India has also led to changes in diet and lifestyle, with an increasing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity, further contributing to the epidemiological transition (Dandona, 2941). The spread of infectious diseases, such as malaria and tuberculosis, is also a major public health concern in India. Despite some progress, the country still has one of the world’s highest burdens of communicable diseases (Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations).
The impact of the epidemiological transition on India’s health system is immense, requiring a shift from traditional primary health care services to a more comprehensive system that incorporates both communicable and non-communicable diseases (Dandona, 2941). This means that the health system needs to focus more on prevention and health promotion activities, such as education on healthy lifestyle practices and access to primary health care services. Moreover, the health system must be more efficient in providing quality care and managing chronic diseases. Health System in India
The health system in India is mainly fragmented and composed of both public and private providers. The public system is financed mainly by the central and state governments and provides universal access to essential healthcare services, including immunization and primary care (Patel, 2426). The private system consists of both formal and informal providers, and the majority of healthcare services are provided by the latter (Patel, 2426). The private sector is largely unregulated and is financed mainly by out-of-pocket payments (Peters et al., 2018). Although the public system provides access to primary healthcare, it is inefficient and lacks adequate funding, leading many people to seek care from the private sector (Patel, 2426). This lack of access to quality healthcare, even essential services, has been a significant cause of concern in India and has been a focus of policymakers in recent years. It is essential that adequate funding is provided to the public health system to ensure everyone has access to quality healthcare services, regardless of their socio-economic status.
Despite progress in reducing infant and child mortality, India is facing a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, with both types causing significant morbidity and mortality (Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations). Therefore, it is essential to address both types of diseases to improve the population’s health. The health issue that merits increased attention in India is maternal and child health. Maternal, infant, and under-five mortality remain high in India, especially in rural areas. The mortality and morbidity burden is further exacerbated by the lack of access to quality healthcare due to poverty and inequality (Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations). Improving access to quality healthcare and addressing the social determinants of health can help reduce the burden of maternal and child mortality and morbidity in India.
In conclusion, India is a low-income country with a rapidly growing population, yet its healthcare system faces many problems. The burden of disease in India has shifted from predominantly communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases in the past decade. India is experiencing an epidemiological transition, with the dual burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. The health system in India is mainly fragmented and consists of both public and private providers. Lastly, maternal and child health is a health issue of national importance that merits increased funding and interventions.
Work Cited
IHME. (2015, September 9). India. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. https://www.healthdata.org/india
Mensah, George A., Gregory A. Roth, and Valentin Fuster. “The global burden of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors: 2020 and beyond.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology 74.20 (2019): 2529-2532.
Dandona, Lalit, et al. “Nations within a nation: variations in epidemiological transition across the states of India, 1990–2016 in the Global Burden of Disease Study.” The Lancet 390.10111 (2017): 2437–2460.
Patel, Vikram, et al. “Assuring health coverage for all in India.” The Lancet 386.10011 (2015): 2422–2435.
Annotated Bibliography
Mensah, George A., Gregory A. Roth, and Valentin Fuster. “The global burden of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors: 2020 and beyond.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology 74.20 (2019): 2529-2532.
This article provides an overview of the global burden of cardiovascular diseases, focusing on India. It examines the leading causes of death in India and the shift in disease burden over the past 10-15 years. It also discusses the epidemiological transition India is undergoing and its impact on the health system.
Dandona, Lalit, et al. “Nations within a nation: variations in epidemiological transition across the states of India, 1990–2016 in the Global Burden of Disease Study.” The Lancet 390.10111 (2017): 2437–2460.
This article examines the epidemiological transition occurring in India and its impact on the disease burden. It looks at the shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases and the dual burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. It also discusses the factors contributing to the transition, such as urbanization and changes in lifestyle.
Patel, Vikram, et al. “Assuring health coverage for all in India.” The Lancet 386.10011 (2015): 2422–2435.
This article examines the health system in India and the need for improved access to healthcare. It looks at the public and private sectors and the financing of the healthcare system. It also discusses the need for increased health coverage and how this can reduce the disease burden in India.
Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations. (2015, September 9). India. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. https://www.healthdata.org/india
This website provides an overview of the burden of disease in India, with a focus on how the burden has shifted over the past 10-15 years and the epidemiological transition being experienced. It also provides data on the leading causes of death and morbidity, as well as information on the health system in India.
write