India ranks among the lowest in the world in public spending on
health, but the private spending is one of the highest. The
National Sample Survey Organisation’s report (2006) shows over
35 per cent of people who are hospitalised fall below the
poverty line because of the expenses that follow, and over 40
per cent have to borrow or sell assets to pay for their care.
Private sector provision rose from 8 per cent in 1947, and may
be as high as 93 per cent of all hospitals, 64 per cent of all
beds, 80 to 85 per cent doctors, 80 per cent of all outpatients
and up to 57 per cent inpatients. The Indian health story is one
of inadequate resource allocation and poor governance. The
substantial development of the private sector has been
compensating the shortcomings of the progressively weakening
public systems. Private entrepreneurship has covered all aspects
of health care markets, including financing, health worker
education and equipment manufacturing and service. The absence
of uniform licensing and accreditation