Problems and constraints in health care technology
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Many people in India, especially the poor, face the problem of seeking effective health care at a cost they can afford, and at a distance they can travel, and with a dignity that they deserve. They make compromises depending on the situation: either with cost, or quality, or dignity. In many cases, families shop for healthcare across different providers at different levels, still getting a poor deal in the end.
Summation of these effects at the individual level is reflected in the poor health outcomes at the population level (such as high levels of mortality, high prevalence of diseases such as tuberculosis etc), and high levels of inequalities in these outcomes. They are also reflected in impoverishment of families due to high recurrent or catastrophic expenditures on health care.
What is the solution? It is well known that 85% of all healthcare needs can be managed effectively at the primary care level, and that the costs of care are substantially lower. From the evidence across the world, it appears that the countries that have a strong primary health care system have better health outcomes, lower inequalities in these outcomes, and lower costs of care.
So what is an effective primary health care system?
Starfield has put forth the four elements of a primary care system:
The point of first contact for all new needs
Person-focused rather than disease-focused continuous care over time
Comprehensive care provided for all needs that are common in the population
Coordination of care for common needs and also those that are sufficiently uncommon to require special services
In addition, a primary care system is characterised by the following features:
Accessible to all
Based in the community
Includes preventive, promotive, and curative health care
What services can be provided at the primary level?
Services addressing almost 85% of the health care needs can be provided at the primary level, including curative, preventive, and promotive care. For other needs, the primary health care system assumes the responsibility of coordinating the care across the higher levels of care.
Summation of these effects at the individual level is reflected in the poor health outcomes at the population level (such as high levels of mortality, high prevalence of diseases such as tuberculosis etc), and high levels of inequalities in these outcomes. They are also reflected in impoverishment of families due to high recurrent or catastrophic expenditures on health care.
What is the solution? It is well known that 85% of all healthcare needs can be managed effectively at the primary care level, and that the costs of care are substantially lower. From the evidence across the world, it appears that the countries that have a strong primary health care system have better health outcomes, lower inequalities in these outcomes, and lower costs of care.
So what is an effective primary health care system?
Starfield has put forth the four elements of a primary care system:
The point of first contact for all new needs
Person-focused rather than disease-focused continuous care over time
Comprehensive care provided for all needs that are common in the population
Coordination of care for common needs and also those that are sufficiently uncommon to require special services
In addition, a primary care system is characterised by the following features:
Accessible to all
Based in the community
Includes preventive, promotive, and curative health care
What services can be provided at the primary level?
Services addressing almost 85% of the health care needs can be provided at the primary level, including curative, preventive, and promotive care. For other needs, the primary health care system assumes the responsibility of coordinating the care across the higher levels of care.
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