"Govt should work closely with private sector to bridge urban-rural divide": Yatharth Hospital CEO

New Delhi [India], March 2 : There is a need for collaboration between the government and private sector in providing healthcare services to bridge the urban and rural divide in the country, said the Chief Executive Officer of Yatharth Hospital, Amit Kumar Singh, on Saturday.
While speaking at a session at 'ANI Dialogues 2024-Navigating India's Health Sector' held in Delhi, AK Singh lauded India's 'superlative' services in terms of healthcare, saying that they are recognised across the world.
"India is absolutely providing very superlative care and it is recognised across the world. A lot of patients from even developing countries come to India due to the cost advantage," Singh said.
He outlined that private sector players are ready to invest in remote areas if the government can provide the right ecosystem.
"Challenge is if you go to the remote areas, like I come from a small town in Jharkhand, I have seen there for even a kidney stone, probably, people travel around 150 kms to a nearby health centre in probably Ranchi for treatment," the CEO said.
"The private players were more focused on the metro cities earlier, but now they are turning to small towns, districts. But private players have certain constraints when going to those smaller districts or towns. The only way to bridge this gap is government and private sector to work closely," he said.
He said that the urban-rural gap can be narrowed if the government can have 'good tie-ups.'
"The government has to provide that ecosystem to bring the private sector over there, like infrastructure, land, regional and local challenges and have very good tie-ups. Then this gap can be narrowed," he said.
The CEO further commended the government healthcare system in the country while pointing out that they need the private sector to 'deliver completely'.
"The government has a very good set-up. They have a system of district hospitals, CHCs and like. The problem is that the government cannot provide complete healthcare delivery. In terms of delivery, the government has to approach the private sector or probably the private sector and government should work together. I think that's the only solution," he said.
"In India, around 60-65 per cent of healthcare is being delivered by private sector. We are ready to provide our resources over there, ready to provide that channel so that we can send our doctors if required or do difficult surgeries," AK Singh said.
He also highlighted the role of tele-medicines in the healthcare sector.
"There's another role of tele-medicines as well. If you have a very good tele-medicine centre, consultation can be done from anywhere to a remote place. So we have to work on the entire ecosystem where the private sector and government has to engage very closely and then this gab can be bridged," he said.
VK Paul, member NITI Aayog and PN Renjen, senior consultant in neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital also attended the session.