The Indian healthcare industry is a prime example of how lack of sectoral regulation has resulted in government ceding space to the private sector. The private healthcare facility, based in the National Capital Region, has denied accusations of over-charging and has justified the bill raised on the family of the deceased. At its core, this unseemly incident also questions the nature of government’s ties with the private sector. It also raises questions about sequencing: should private sector be allowed entry into various sectors without first establishing independent or autonomous regulatory structures? Over the past 10-15 years, the government has steadily relinquished its space to the private sector as the sole provider of public goods and services, with the private sector player gradually introducing arbitrary and unregulated user charges.

Source: Mint November 28, 2017 18:00 UTC