The Indian government spends little over one per cent of its GDP on healthcare and the state-run hospitals suffer a severe shortage of doctors and beds in state hospitals, but provides tax concessions and cheap land to its booming private healthcare industry providing expensive treatments to India’s most wealthy people. India in total spends only 4% of their GDP on healthcare.

India spending on health care (% of GDP)

Private hospitals were ordered in August 2011 to provide free medical treatment to the poor. They are too poor to afford their own healthcare.

This short news report looks at the human impact of an Indian health care system where many millions of people simply cannot afford basic care and treatment.

What would be some of the consequences for Indian development of a greater investment in health care for their poorest citizens?