Opportunities for Public Private Partnership in healthcare in India

Author Info: 

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Mohammed Arif Raza

Manager - Hospital Quality Assurance

Shree Krishna Hospital, Karamsad, Gujarat, India

Email: arifraza@rediffmail.com

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INDIAN HEALTHCARE SECTOR

In rapidly growing Indian economy the healthcare sector is facing a great challenge of providing health for all. There is vast unmet and increasing demand for healthcare at all levels. Even after an enormous growth in healthcare over the past few years a wide gap remains between demand and supply. The vast area and a huge population of our country needs equitable amount of resources to provide healthcare.

Our current health infrastructure is grossly inadequate to meet the demand. There is an acute shortage of hospital beds with bed ratio of 0.7 per 1000 population as against average of 1 bed per 1000 amongst low income countries (as defined by WHO). Number of doctors per 1000 population is 1.2 as against average of 2.3 for developing nation. We similarly lack other resources such as nurses, technicians, technology etc. Even with this low ratio, distribution of these resources are highly unequal, with high concentration seen in urban areas. Besides lack of resources , cost is another factor that hinders with provision of healthcare to a majority of population. Cost of healthcare in India, although considerably low as compared to other countries is still not affordable to many. In India, 80% of the expenditure of healthcare comes from out of pocket. In most cases healthcare expenses comes unplanned and leaves high stress on the families financial health. A high percentage of people have to sell their assets to meet healthcare expenses and a lot of them goes below poverty line every year due to unexpected expenditure of healthcare. Poor road connectivity and lack of public transport facilities specially in rural and far off areas adds to the overall cost of taking treatment at a healthcare facility.

Identification of Patient

Proper identification of patient is a single most effective measure to prevent errors in healthcare. Click here to view a presentation on 'Identification of Patient'.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

In hospitals, there are many materials used, that are hazardous for human being. A Material Safety Data Sheet is a brief document which describes the safety instructions on how to store and handle these hazardous materials. It also specifies action to be taken if any hazard occurred from them.
Hospital should identify all hazardous materials that they use and acquire MSDS for each of them. These MSDS should be displayed or kept available at work place for use of staff.

MSDS of some hazardous materials used in hospital is given here. Click on them to download and use for your hospital.

1. Acryl Amide
2. Asbestos
3. Diesel
4. Ethylene Oxide
5. Formaldehyde
6. Glutaraldehyde
7. Mercury
8. Phenol
9. Propylene LPG
10. Sodium Hypochlorite

Hospital Accreditation

Healthcare organizations like hospitals are very complex in nature and the medical treatment offered by them are highly technical. This makes it extremely difficult for patients to evaluate whether they are getting right treatment or not. Almost every time patients have to rely on the advice given by doctor and hospital. In this situation, patients cannot have high confidence on the quality of hospital they chose for their healthcare.

Selecting a Right Hospital

Hospital plays a vital role in a patient's medical treatment and outcome. Having a good doctor is essential, but not the only factor for a successful treatment. Hospital that you select can be a crucial factor for the fate of your patient's health. While there are several types of hospital, one should think which hospital is right for their treatment. Although your primary doctor may recommend some hospitals, it is advisable for patients and their family to evaluate whether the hospital is good for them. Since, the practice of paying commission to referring doctor is highly prevalent, it is quite possible, that your doctor's recommendation for a hospital is because of the high commission being paid to him by the hospital.

Here are some to do points before selecting a hospital for treatment

While visiting a patient in hospital

Visiting a relative, friend, colleague or known to in hospital is seen as a gesture of love, care and affection. In hospital, patients are often visited by their well wishers, who provide them support and pray for their speedy recovery. While this emotional support from well wishers are an important component in recovery of patient, certain care should be taken by visitors, to ensure that they do not cause any harm to patient or themselves.

1. Patient needs rest and that is one of the main reason why he/she is admitted in a hospital. Make sure that your visit should not cause unrest to the patient
2. Every hospital has defined visiting hours. Visit only during these hours, so that other patients do not get disturbed
3. Do not overcrowd near patient. Meet patient in group of two or maximum three at a time.

Patient's rights

As a patient you and your family have some rights. Your doctor/hospital is oblidge to discharge their duties in accordance to your rights. You should be aware of these rights, so that you can demand for them, if not fulfilled by hospitals. Hospitals and doctors are bound by law to fulfill these rights. Patient's rights includes,

Infections in hospitals. What every patient should know

Imagine, you went to a hospital seeking cure of your disease but instead acquired another infectious disease from the hospital. This is called hospital acquired or nosocomial infection. It is one of the biggest risk which a patient is exposed to while getting treated in a hospital. Every year about 17 million patients acquire nosocomial infections in United States which leads to 99,000 deaths every year (As per data of CDC). The figures in developing countries like India may be much higher.

Why does nosocomial infection occur?