80 per cent of Indian doctors located in urban areas

New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Nearly 75 per cent of dispensaries, 60 per cent of hospitals and 80 per cent of doctors are located in urban areas, serving only 28 per cent of India, says a new report released here on Friday by KPMG and the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI).

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).