Access to Healthcare Services is a Right, not a Privilege: Sigal Atzmon

Ensuring access to health services should be the cornerstone of a post-Covid world

Most of the health workers in Bhopal returned to their work on Sunday.
by Sigal Atzmon
Founder & CEO of Medix Global

It has been over a year since governments across the world have been working towards curbing the spread of the Covid-19. From periodic lockdowns, evening curfews, strict travel restrictions and people working from home, the pandemic has impacted all aspects of our daily lives.

At the peak of the pandemic, healthcare providers were our first line of defense. Their bravery and commitment to help others in the time of crisis cannot be questioned. Despite their utmost efforts however, many patients in need were unable to access basic healthcare services. From a crunch in supply of essential medicines to the scarcity of hospital beds and respirators, healthcare systems across the world were overwhelmed.

The widespread paucity in what has emerged as the most vital industry of 2020 has put a spotlight on the inequality in access to healthcare that is widely prevalent. The healthcare crisis soon transformed into an economic and social one. The pandemic severely undercut the gains the healthcare industry had made in recent years. It has brought to fore the need to make “healthcare for all” a reality by introducing innovative care models and making it more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Covid-19 has hit us hard. But the people who were impacted the most were the ones who were already struggling to make ends meet and the social divide has grown wider. While people were afraid to visit their doctors for various reasons, others in smaller cities and villages had no means to access quality healthcare facilities and practitioners. The full force of the calamity was somewhat mitigated due to a widespread adoption of online consultations and digital health solutions in many countries around the world and in India, the announcement by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi of the National Digital Health Mission has also served as a catalyst for digital adoption in the healthcare sector.

With the rise of remote and digitally enhanced care, people are more open and want access to health services from the comfort and safety of their homes. They don't want to visit a hospital or a clinic anymore if it is avoidable. COVID has fast tracked this model of on-demand, remote care through digital health solutions, replacing in-person consultations. Scaling up home healthcare services would also help reduce the burden on the already strained hospital infrastructure.

In India, out of pocket expenses for healthcare amount to nearly 62%. This is almost thrice the global average of 18%. This out of pocket expense burden could be reduced significantly by driving health insurance penetration and creating a more balanced eco-system.

Stakeholders from the healthcare industry including the government need to work together closely and apply a shared value approach to ensure accessibility (quality driven) and sustainability (affordability) of the healthcare services. Insurance companies must strive to equip their customers with the tools to manage their health better. As payers and providers strive for accessible and value-based care, all sides need to contribute diligently to improve patient outcomes and minimize the economic burden for receiving care.

The industry’s focus must also shift towards prevention and early detection. Even prior to the pandemic, many lives in India were lost every year to diseases such as breast cancer, complications of diabetes, cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases which are easily preventable if detected early. Despite being a nation with a young population India’s disease burden remains significantly high. The government must utilise its funds towards rolling out awareness programs and preventive health check-up camps to address the loss of lives to these diseases.

Finally, investing in robust data-driven population health systems, implementing early warning protocols, ensuring a vigilant health emergency response, and a well-equipped healthcare system will be indispensable for preparing for a healthier tomorrow.

In 2021, the world is at a cross-roads. On this year’s World Health Day, WHO is calling for action to eliminate health inequities and building a fairer, healthier world for everyone. With Covid vaccines now available, we have the time to reflect. To fix the gaps that have crept into the healthcare systems and to prepare for tomorrow’s pandemics. We must make the most of this brief window to chart a clear path for holistically addressing the issues of access, affordability and quality healthcare. Innovative digital health solutions that increase accessibility to care, reduce unwarranted healthcare variations and advance sustainability of the healthcare ecosystem will be key to bring about such a change.


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