An Analysis in Relation to Population and Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in Addressing the Shortage in Public Health Care Delivery System among Indian States and Union Territories- A Comparative Fact-Finding Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the variations in the public health care delivery system in relation to population and Gross state domestic product (GSDP) among Indian states.The parameters obtained were total population, GSDP, Public health care expenditure (PHCE), the number of allopathic doctors, dentists, and nurses presents per 1000 population, Number of Sub Centres, Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Community Health Centres (CHC) and their respective shortfall in each state. The data was obtained from various electronic sources such as the National health profile 2020 and Rural Health Statistics 2019- 2020. The population of each state and UT was obtained from Census 2011 as published by The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of Telangana for Telangana population. The collected data were compiled and tabulated, and descriptive analysis was done using Microsoft Excel version 2016 and SPSS Software Version 20. Shortfalls and variations in the Public Health care delivery system were apparent. The shortfall of Sub- centres, PHC, and CHC were seen in Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Bihar, respectively. Haryana, Kerala, and Sikkim had the highest number of allopathic doctors, dentists, and Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM), respectively. Meghalaya, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh had the lowest number of allopathic doctors, dentists, and Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM), respectively. Andhra Pradesh (1.9%), Chhattisgarh (1.9%), Himachal Pradesh (1.9%), and Manipur (1.9%) had the highest PHCE percentage based on GSDP.There is an urgent need to develop the healthcare infrastructure and health workforce. Spending less than two per cent of the GDP on public health is really insufficient. Precise measures are required to address the shortage of skilled health manpower, infrastructure and management of finance all over India by spending more on health care needs rather spending on other costly defence utilities.