Use the private health care sector

The experience of government-funded health insurance schemes has created knowledge on how to engage with the private sector, and that should be built upon

In responding to the COVID-19 epidemic, there is a need to surge the quantities of testing and health care. Most of the capacity in testing and health care in India is in the private sector. Hence, the thinking about health policy should envision how to utilise these capabilities. The right combination involves public funding and private production. This involves complexities of addressing market failure through purchasing, and government capability in contracting.

Testing is extremely important, when faced with an epidemic, for two reasons. The first, and non-specific factor, lies in situational awareness. For decision makers, public and private, to understand