Healthcare Service Provision Seen through Villager’s Lenses

Abstract

Social health protection is an essential part of the welfare policy framework. This article discusses two
components of Social health protection – direct provision of health care services by the government
and NGOs; and micro health insurance for covering catastrophic health expenditures. The discussion
sections start with the components of direct healthcare service provision at the village level: healthcare
centers, free medicines, health camps, awareness campaigns and health talks and referral services. The
article shows that if done properly, all these components are well appreciated by the villagers. They are
seen to have no urge to use private facilities, if good facilities established by govt/NGO exist. NSS also
shows that there is higher utilization of government health services than before.
The article shows that quality and affordable healthcare leads to better income, better school attendance,
reduction in out of pocket expenditures and minimal dependence on informal health workers. However,
the current healthcare service situation in rural India leaves much to be desired. There are problems of
infrastructure, manpower, training, availability of consumables, and hence lack of trust in government
services.
Reimbursement of health expenses can address some of these issues but the articles whos that there
too, the progress is slow and not upto the mark yet. Therefore it is concluded that health care services in
India need to be upgraded starting from providing very basic facilities like water and electricity.