Through schemes such as AB PMJAY and rampant public-private partnerships, public money is increasingly shunted to the private sector, further weakening the public health system. As health and healthcare increasingly become expensive commodities, and the public health system continues to erode, the future of India’s health looks deeply worrisome. While increased public health funding, greater investment in primary care, and regulation of privatisation are frequently discussed as solutions, these remain largely abstract ideas. What, then, can save India’s crumbling public health system? Parth Sharma is a community physician and a public health researcher.

Source: The Hindu January 07, 2026 07:32 UTC