Healthcare for all in emerging countries: a preliminary investigation of facilities in Kolkata, India

Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2016;52(1):88-97. doi: 10.4415/ANN_16_01_15.

Abstract

Introduction: India is one of the five countries with the lowest public health spending levels: the private medical services are one of the most developed fields, meanwhile public health ones are totally inadequate with the most number of health facilities concentrated in cities, where only the 25% of the population lives. Public facilities are mainly made up of primary level and not well distributed on the territories, so they do not guarantee accessibility to a wide sample of population, who live in rural areas of India.

Methodology: Starting from the analysis of three different health care levels in the Indian context, the research team developed a meta-project that considers all the current criticisms and the Indian customs through a flexible layout that responds to the healthcare needs of population.

Result and discussion: The research work is aimed to develop a meta-project that considers all the current criticisms and the Indian customs through flexible layouts that responds to the healthcare needs of population.

Conclusion: The innovation of the research work is to develop the hygienic aspects, the layout and the distribution, the sub-division of the medical functions through the Indian culture and the needs of the country. The choice of lowly technologies permits to promote the usage of local materials, their maintenance and skills for creating a virtuous economic system.

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care*
  • Developing Countries*
  • Facility Design and Construction*
  • Health Facilities*
  • Humans
  • India
  • Needs Assessment
  • Public Health