Health and healthcare in India
18.10.13
Following Taylor, Keil also stressed the complexities of the issue and likewise pointed to the need to protect incentives for innovation, while simultaneously ensuring accessibility of medicines. Keil’s emphasis was on the practical realities of delivering healthcare in resource-poor environments. “The problems are too complex for any one individual to solve…” she agreed. Keil also stressed the importance of contextualizing global health solutions, whether in India or elsewhere, as she noted “We need to capacity build and to provide tailor-made solutions.” Pointing to the long history of MSF in addressing global health issues, Aagaard agreed that “healthcare reform is a long process that requires experimentation and innovation based on the experiences in one’s own country. MSF believe that there are fundamental flaws in the R&D and pricing model that need to be resolved if we are to create a sustainable solution to access.
Despite differing opinions on topics such as pricing models, the three panelists were in agreement that collaboration – and open discussion like the one held today – are the only way forward to enhance healthcare. Taylor stressed a “future-oriented” approach, and his words left no doubt that improving healthcare solutions in countries like India are global health goals that require globally minded solutions: “Can we all get through to that safe place, where we all live long and prosper? That's the challenge for us now as a global society.”
More information:
- Professor David Taylor's presentation "Health & Health Care in India: Policy Implications for Europe" given at the October 17 event
- Report "Health and Health Care in India: National opportunities, global impacts"
- UCL statement "Hundreds of millions of vulnerable Indian citizens lack free access to essential generic medicines while policies risk undermining new medicines research funding"
- Presentation given by Dr. Petra Keil, Head Global Public Policy, Novartis