Lack of robust Healthcare Policy Kashmiri Pandits have a lot to worry about

 

Safeguarding 150 Million Ageing Indians and the Flight of Kashmiri Pandits

By 2026, India will be home to over 150 million individuals aged no and above, including nearly 18 million high-income households eading over 5,00,000 annually. As urban centres burgeon, with million-plus population chess projected to rise tromp 35 to 65, the nation faces an escalating tide of non communicable diseases-heart conditions, diabetes, and cancer-surging at a staggering 47% combined annual growth rate. For vulnerable communities like the Kashmiri Pandits, already burdened by displacement and systemic neglect, this healthcare crisis looms a an existential threat. Without a transformative, incisive long-term healthcare policy, India risks abandoning its elderly and marginalised to an uncertain fate The Indian healthcare market, valued at USS62 billion last year, is set to soar to $125 billion by 2025, propelled by a 15% compound annual growth rate. Yet, this growth masks a stark paradox: while India's elite medical institutions draw global medical tourists, the majority of its careen’s-particularly in rural and semi-urban areas-languish without access to affordable, quality care. With less than 10% of the population covered by health insurance, India's healthcare infrastructure is woefully inadequate. The nation has less than one-third the doctors per capita compared to China and a mere hundredth compared to the USA. A shortfall of 1.1 million hospital beds, 0.8 million doctors, and 1.7 million nurses, coupled with a dire scarcity of paramedics, compounds this crisis. For 45% of the population, accessing tertiary care means travelling over 100 kilometres a journey that is both a logistical and financial on deal Thin grim reality demands urgent action, vet India's healthcare system remains shaped by market whims rather than a compassionate. planned vision. Total health expenditure, at a paltry 2.2% of GDP, lags far behind developed nations and even some developing peers. Over 50% of healthcare spending Bows through the private sector, leaving the public system underfunded and overstretched. The bed-to population ratio of 11 falls short of developing economy standards, and the lack of accessibility, affordability, and accountability renders the dream of Health for All a distant mirage. For Kashmiri Pandits, whose communities have been fractured by decades of displacement, these systemic failures exacerbate their vulnerability, leaving them with scant resources to navigate an already strained healthcare landscape. Hope, however, glimmers in the success of private-public partnerships Institutions like Tata Memorial, AIIMS, Dayanand Medical College de Hospital, PD. Hindu Charitable Hospital, and PGI Chandigarh exemplary how non-profit models can deliver world-class care at accessible costs. These beacons of excellence invest in cutting-edge technology and prioritise the needs of the underprivileged, setting a gold standard for Indian healthcare. The government must champion such initiatives through proactive policy, not sporadic interventions. In the UK, 59% of elective surgeries occur in ambulatory settings in the USA, over 5,000 such centres thrive. India by contrast, conducts only 20% of surgeries on an outpatient basis, with ophthalmology (27%) gastroenterology (27%), and orthopaedics (10%) leading the way. Scaling ambulatory care hospitals while making care more accessible To address the diverse needs of India's population-especially lower-iniddle-income ne groups, the urban poor, and rural communities-healthcare providers must pivot to low-cost, scalable models. Secondary care hospitals, with 100-150 beds, offer a compelling solution. These mid-sized facilities provide upgraded secondary care, basis diagnostics, pharmacy services, with an average revenue and per bed of 12.000 and over 25% of patients insured Requiring just 1,000 square feet per bed and a typical patient stay of three days, these hospitals are cost-efficient, replicable, and adaptable Their streamlined operations foster patient loyalty and serve as vital feeders to tertiary care otters. The secondary care market, currently valued at 55,000 crore, is poised to skyrocket to 560,000 crore by 2025. Strategic investments in tier II and tier III coties could transform these regions into healthcare hubs, easing the strain on urban centres and delivering quality care to the heart of India. The COVID-19 pandemic has catalysers reckoning in Indian healthcare exposing its and equity A comprehensive, inclusive healthcare policy is no longer a luxury bar moral and pragmatic imperative. Such framework must bolster both public and priva sectors, prioritise accessibility, and cran quality care reaches every comer of the nation For communities like the Kashmiri Pandita, w have endured systemic marginalisation, ha policy could be a lifeline, restoring dignity and security through equitable healthcare acces India stands at a crossroads. With 15 million elderly citizens and vulneraries populations like the Kashmiri Pandits at nå the absence of a robust healthcare policy sword dangling perilously overhead By investing in scalable models, fostering publo private synergies, and prioritising the underserved, India can forge a healthcare system that is not only world-class but also deeply humane. The time to act is now-let us build a future where no one is left behind.

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Courtesy: Dr. Ashish Kaul  and Koshur Samachar- 2025,June