UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 15 March 2025

1. Preventive healthcare –
   1. Problems
      1. Low Healthcare Spending – India allocates less than 2% of GDP to healthcare, limiting preventive initiatives.
      2. Regulatory Challenges – Complex clinical trial rules slow preventive healthcare innovations.
      3. Limited Awareness – Many people prioritize curative care over prevention.
      4. Access Gaps – Rural areas lack preventive healthcare infrastructure.
      5. Rising Lifestyle Diseases – Increasing cases of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity strain the system.
   2. Solutions-
      1. Increase Healthcare Budget – Allocate more funds to preventive healthcare programs and awareness campaigns.
      2. Regulatory Reforms – Simplify clinical trial processes to boost innovation in preventive healthcare.
      3. Public Awareness Campaigns – Promote preventive measures like vaccination, screenings, and healthy lifestyles.
      4. Improve Rural Access – Expand primary healthcare centers and digital health solutions.
      5. Encourage Healthy Living – Implement policies for better nutrition, fitness, and pollution control.
      6. Phcs and CHCs to create awareness.
      7. Integrating traditional medicinal Ayurvedic knowledge.
2. Early diagnosis
   1. Problems
      1. Limited Awareness – Many people ignore early symptoms, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
      2. Poor Screening Infrastructure – Lack of widespread screening programs, especially in rural areas.
      3. High Costs – Diagnostic tests remain expensive and inaccessible for low-income populations.
      4. Shortage of Specialists – Few trained professionals for early detection of diseases like cancer and diabetes.
      5. Delayed Medical Attention – Patients often visit doctors at advanced disease stages due to lack of preventive culture.
   2. Solutions
      1. Increase Awareness – Conduct nationwide campaigns on the importance of regular health checkups.
      2. Expand Screening Programs – Strengthen government initiatives for free or affordable screenings, especially in rural areas.
      3. Reduce Diagnostic Costs – Subsidize essential tests and promote public-private partnerships for affordable healthcare.
      4. Train More Specialists – Increase medical training programs to produce more diagnostic professionals.
      5. Promote Digital Health – Use telemedicine and AI-driven diagnostics for early disease detection.
         1. Self diagnosing cancer kit, TB kit
3. Curative healthcare system

Problems

1. Inadequate Healthcare Spending: India’s public health expenditure remains low, with government spending at 1.28% of GDP, leading to resource constraints in the healthcare sector.
2. Shortage of Medical Professionals: India has approximately 60 doctors per 100,000 people, significantly lower than countries like Canada (209) and the United States (548), highlighting a critical shortage.
3. Overburdened Public Hospitals: Public hospitals in India face challenges such as overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure, leading to compromised patient care.
4. High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: In India, 48.8% of healthcare expenses are paid out-of-pocket, placing a significant financial burden on households.
5. Unequal Access to Healthcare: Rural areas in India often lack adequate healthcare facilities and specialists, resulting in disparities in healthcare access.

Solutions

1. Increase Healthcare Budget: Allocating more funds to healthcare can improve infrastructure, equipment, and staffing, addressing resource shortages.
2. Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between public and private sectors can enhance healthcare accessibility and quality.
3. Expand Medical Education: Establishing more medical colleges and incentivizing service in rural areas can address the shortage of medical professionals.
4. Improve Insurance Coverage: Expanding government healthcare programs, such as increasing free health coverage for citizens aged above 70, can reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
5. Enhance Telemedicine Services: Implementing telemedicine services can bridge the healthcare gap in rural areas, providing remote consultations and reducing the need for travel.

4. Palliative healthcare system

Challenges in Palliative Care in India

1. Limited Access to Services- Palliative care services are scarce, especially in rural areas, leading to inadequate support for patients and families.
2. Opioid Availability– Strict regulations and societal stigma limit access to essential pain-relief medications like morphine, resulting in inadequate pain management.
3. Lack of Training- Many healthcare professionals lack training in palliative care, leading to unmet end-of-life care needS.
4. Public Awareness- Limited awareness about palliative care among the public and healthcare providers leads to underutilization of available services.
5. Policy Implementation- Despite national programs, inconsistent implementation at the state level hampers the reach and effectiveness of palliative care services.

Solutions to Enhance Palliative Care in India

1. Expand Services-Integrate palliative care into primary healthcare to ensure wider availability, especially in underserved regions.
2. Improve Opioid Access- Simplify regulations and educate stakeholders to ensure the availability of essential pain-relief medications.
3. Professional Training- Incorporate palliative care into medical and nursing curricula to equip healthcare professionals with necessary skills.
4. Raise Awareness- Conduct public awareness campaigns to educate communities about the benefits and availability of palliative care services.
5. Strengthen Policy –  Implementation Ensure consistent application of national palliative care programs across all states to provide uniform care standards.

5. Mental healthcare

Challenges in India’s Mental Healthcare

1. High Prevalence of Mental Disorders: Approximately 15% of the Indian population suffers from mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
2. Treatment Gap– Nearly 85% of individuals with mental health disorders in India do not receive adequate treatment, leading to significant disability and caregiver burden.
3. Shortage of Mental Health Professionals- There is a significant shortage of trained mental health professionals in India, contributing to the treatment gap.
4. Stigma and Lack of Awareness- Social stigma and lack of awareness about mental health prevent individuals from seeking help, exacerbating the burden of mental disorders.
5. Insufficient Integration into Primary Healthcare- Mental health services are not adequately integrated into primary healthcare, limiting accessibility, especially in rural areas.

Solutions to Improve Mental Healthcare in India

1. Enhance Mental Health Infrastructure- Investing in mental health infrastructure, including establishing more mental health facilities and integrating services into primary healthcare, can improve accessibility.
2. Increase Mental Health Workforce- Expanding training programs for mental health professionals and utilizing community health workers can address the workforce shortage.
3. Public Awareness Campaigns- Conducting nationwide campaigns can reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek help for mental health issues.
4. Policy Implementation and Funding- Ensuring effective implementation of mental health policies and allocating sufficient funds are crucial for improving mental healthcare services.
5. Leverage Technology- Utilizing digital platforms and artificial intelligence can enhance mental health services, making them more accessible and efficient