|
A recent study by CRISIL Research on the Healthcare sector avers that telemedicine is key to improving efficiency and widening the reach of healthcare, especially to rural India. The study points out that, with over 70 per cent of India's population residing in rural areas and more than 75 per cent of Indian doctors based in cities, telemedicine will turn out to be the only feasible way to bridge the rural-urban health divide. Mr. Sudhir Nair, Head, CRISIL Research adds, "Telemedicine, in our opinion, is one such innovative technology, which if used effectively, would help improve the efficiency of doctors as they would be able to treat more patients. We believe that it is difficult to make standalone telemedicine models feasible but instead an integrated healthcare model would be viable."
Ratio of doctors to population, though low, is expected to improve however acute shortage of nurses to be witnessed post 2011, says CRISIL Research.
Availability of doctors would be less of a concern in India, vis-à-vis the availability of nurses, according to the study. According to Mr. Nair, Head, "The ratio of doctors per thousand of population although low, is expected to improve over the medium-to-long-term. However, there would be an evident lack of specialist doctors as the profile of diseases is expected to shift towards lifestyle-related ailments. With private players investing heavily over the long term and the lack of adequate investments in setting up nursing colleges, there is expected to be an imminent shortage of nursing staff."
India's allopathic doctors-to-population ratio is far below world average; however a strong history of alternative medical practices provides some breather
The report further states that currently, the ratio of allopathic doctors per thousand of population in India is a meagre 0.60 as compared with the world average of 1.5. However, alternative medicines in India are used extensively in the case of chronic diseases. In 2006, India had an estimated 680,384 registered allopathic doctors and 730,860 registered practitioners/doctors under Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). Thus, on considering the number of AYUSH doctors, the ratio of total doctors-per-thousand improves to 1.27 in 2006, and as per the report, this ratio is expected to further improve over the medium-to-long-term.
Shortage of nurses to be felt more acutely in India post 2011
The report also states that the nurse-per-bed ratio in India is 0.87 vis-à-vis the world average of 1.2 nurses per bed, which has been arrived at based on data from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The ratio has been arrived at considering only the general nursing midwives (GNMs) across countries. Since hospitals employ a mix of GNMs and auxiliary nursing midwives (ANMs), CRISIL Research opines that considering GNMs alone is incorrect, and hence, the report takes ANMs too into consideration while calculating the nurse-per-bed ratio in India.
Taking ANMs into consideration, the nurse-to-bed ratio was 1.4 in 2006. "We expect this ratio to worsen to 1.29 in 2011 and ultimately to 1.15 in 2016." points Mr Nair. Thus, CRISIL Research believes that post 2011, there will be a shortage of nurses, thereby leading to higher attrition levels in the nursing profession. "The only solution would be that corporates set up nursing colleges along with hospitals, so as to have a continuous flow of nursing staff." states Mr Nair.
|
Media Contact
|
Analytical Contacts
|
Client Servicing Contact
|
Ramya Krishnan Anil
Head, Market Development & Communications
CRISIL
Phone: +91-22-6758-8051
Mobile: +91 98203 42671
Facsimile: +91-22-6758-8088
Email: RamyaKA@crisil.com
|
Sudhir Nair
Head, CRISIL Research
Phone: +91-22-6691 3526
Email : snair@crisil.com
Binaifer Jehani
Research Analyst,
CRISIL Research
Tel: +91-22-6644 4091
Email: bjehani@crisil.com
|
Client Servicing
Tel: +91-22-6691 3561
Email: clientservicing@crisil.com
|
About CRISIL Limited
CRISIL is India's leading Ratings, Research, Risk and Policy Advisory Company.
About CRISIL Research
CRISIL Research is India's largest independent, integrated research house. We leverage our unique, integrated research platform and capabilities spanning the entire economy-industry company spectrum to deliver superior perspectives and insights to over 500 domestic and global clients, through a range of subscription products and customised solutions.
We provide our clients with a vital competitive advantage in today's dynamic environment - 'Knowledge for Action.'
This Press Release is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper / magazine / agency. The Press release may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution of its Press Releases for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.
|
|
