India's total healthcare expenditure at about 4.1 per cent of GDP is among the lowest in the world, the "KPMG - OPPI report on healthcare access initiatives" highlighted.
"Only a long-term, proactive strategy with education and awareness at its centre, involving all stakeholders, i.e., healthcare providers, insurance companies and healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, can achieve the desired vision of a healthy country," said Utkarsh Palnitkar, Partner and Head, Infrastructure, Government, Healthcare and Life Sciences, KPMG in India.
The report pointed out that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for nearly 60 per cent of deaths in India annually. The country is estimated to lose $4.58 trillion by 2030 due to them.
The report highlights poor healthcare indices for India.
Life expectancy in India (68 years in 2015) is amongst the lowest in BRIC -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- nations, the report said.
In rural India, only 37 per cent of people have access to In-Patient Department (IPD) facilities within a 5 km distance and only 68 per cent have access to an Out-Patient Department (OPD)
India also has the lowest number of physicians per 10,000 population among BRIC countries, the report said.
"India's healthcare strategy requires a holistic approach and a critical evaluation of our existing systems," said Shailesh Ayyangar, President, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI).
