Health Economics in India

Health economics as an independent scientific discipline is about 30 years old. This field is now so well established that it has appeared in the curriculum of most universities. Although, health economists are mainly found in medical departments, the connection to economics proper is being strengthened. In India, scanty literature is available on the concept of health and health economics. This book provides the much needed material on health related topics. Health is an important aspect of human resource development. Good health care facilities and services are essential for creating healthy citizens and society that can effectively contribute to social and economic development. With increased urbanisation, industrialization and the changing environment, health related issues and problems are being emphasised and have become a great concern for the contemporary world. Over the years, though the researchers, academicians and governments have tried to find ways and means to this, many issues and aspects of health, viz. provision of quality services and an effective delivery system, managing health expenditure and its financing and adequate expansion of service network to rural and tribal areas to achieve equity in access to health care, are yet to be completely resolved. Little attention has been paid to the micro aspects of health economics by the researchers, government, policy makers and the development planners. The present volume, containing 16 papers, covers different aspects and issues related to health with empirical evidence. It is an initiative to partially address these issues and draw the attention of government functionaries and health planners. The main themes which the volume covers are: health status and development, tribals’ health, determinants of health, health care service delivery and health sector financing and reforms. The volume will provide immense inputs and help to the academicians, health researchers, policy maker, health planners and government officials.