A focus on the Health Economy of India.
Have you ever visited a hospital when your loved ones were going through a bad phase? How did you feel during those tough times ?
Bihar’s iconic teacher with millions of students, who prepare and learn under his guidance. He made a deep impact on students coming from humble backgrounds, earning huge respect from society for his affordable teaching. Many students from poor backgrounds have managed to gain tremendous success in their careers by getting jobs in the government sector, from IAS officers to constables, teachers to army officials. He trains students with at most conviction with minimal facilities, with just 200 rupees as fees. He got several opportunities to earn profits and offers, but he refused everything for social causes.
A teacher who showed a path by giving them hope and vision of how education can change many lives. He established himself in the field of teaching, but recently he sparked outrage in the news by starting a charitable hospital with low prices which caused major criticism from citizens targeting governments.
Sir Khan's hospital prices went viral on the internet, giving him huge applause on the internet. He said it was his parents' dream to establish an affordable hospital for poor and marginalised people. A hospital is a painful place where money plays a crucial role, with a heart full of pain, emotions, fear and tears rolling down your eyes. Every moment were you think about your father, mother, sister, brother and friends. The constant pressure of finance and unimaginable outcomes of treatment costs are painful.
The prices of Khan Sir Hospital.
Khan Sir Hospital.
Blood Test -7.
ECG-25
X-ray- 35
Ultrasound – 100
MRI screening – 1000
CT - 900
He even started a 24/7 blood bank and aspires to open multiple branches across Bihar.
Why is the government not able to provide the same hospital facilities like Khan sir ?
Have you seen a government hospital with zero beds ?
Patients are sitting on floors and families weeping and screaming over not being treated properly by doctors or inaccessible of doctors.
Only a bunch of doctors treating multiple patients with giving 2 minutes per patient. Many doctors have their own personal hospitals or work overtime in private hospitals. The pay between government doctors and private sector doctors has a difference. Over time work schedule and high emotional stress. The population who visit government hospitals are mostly economically weaker sections, from rural backgrounds, and critically ill patients. The pressure on doctors is extreme.
The government procedures are rigid, complex and full of hierarchical roles.
*Just to buy a little equipment, the government has to send notifications and public notice, order tenders and finalise orders. The tender system and allocation process takes time. Every injection to hospital equipments has to be tendered with responsiblity. If one piece of equipment fails, it takes at least a few days to replace that equipment. The delay in funds and bureaucratic hurdles makes things complex for even a small thing. The economic signature procedures of government institutions and permit processes need a serious change in our country, not only in hospitals but in every government body.
*The private sector hospitals are profit-driven, and they are independent incharge. The decisions are made quickly by a single entity, whereas government decisions are made by multiple layers with signatures from top to bottom.
*The governments cannot compromise on tax systems and allocation to multiple states; there are poor and rich states. The government also provides policies like Ayushman Bharat, national health mission, health and wellness centres and construction of AIIMS across every state. District hospitals, salaries and allowances for doctors. The allocations are based on economic inequality rather than charitable.
*The Khans Sir model is social and charitable with independent decisions and targeting only a few areas which is a phenomenal work. but the government needs a bigger picture to look, not only of a particular sector, and it is not an individual entity. The government allocates approximately 1,06,530 crore to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare every year in the budget, which is 1.8% of India's GDP, less than the recommendations given by experts. They expect an allocation of 2.5 %.
The government's model and the Khan Sirs hospital model are poles apart. Surely he is doing a great job by doing great charitable work for the public in the health and education sector, but they do not have to compare that to governments work.
We need more charitable hospitals along with quality health services. According to Numbeo Report 2025, India ranks 44th in the health care index across the world. Understanding India’s complex social, political, economic, population, area, cultural contexts and geographical factors. It is a complex task to provide quality health care. There have been crucial changes after coronavirus pandemic. The improve in structures and awareness among people have made the government work effectively.
