Main description:

One of the first books of its kind that documents historical transition of healthcare system and policy reform interventions in India since independence and contributes to the ongoing debate within development and institutional economics on the approaches towards reform in the public health system. It measures the effectiveness of these interventions in improving the access to and equity in healthcare services and outcomes of the health sector.
The book argues for increase in allocative efficiency, efficiency of resource use and efficacy of allocated public funds through decentralised governance and for greater participation of diversified community in politics to influence the policy makers towards reprioritisation of health.
This timely book during the pandemic era, will be of great interest to departments of health economics, governance and institutional economics, political economy, sociology, public policy, regional studies, and development studies. It will also be useful to policymakers, health economists, social scientists, public health experts and professionals, and government and nongovernment institutions.

Contents:

1. Health System Dynamics: Evolution of Health Policies in India Part 1: State as a Provider of Health Care Services 2. Investing in Health: Health Policies and Expenditure Priorities 3. Rejuvenating the Public System: Efficiency in Resource Allocation Part 2: Institutional Reforms: Decentralisation in Service Delivery 4. Politicising the Reprioritisation of Health Expenditure 5. Decentralisation in Health: Rationale, Measurements and Effectiveness 6. Decentralisation, Access and Service Delivery Part 3: New Financing and Policy Paradigms: Redefining the Role of State 7. Towards Privatising Health Care: At What Cost? 8. Changing Nature of Healthcare Financing: Who Benefits?