Prioritising Women Healthcare As National Security
Traditionally, ‘national security’ focused on defence forces, intelligence agencies, and homeland protection. However, it’s time to broaden what constitutes national security in India, and to recognise that women’s healthcare is not just a matter of public health, but a pivotal component of our nation’s security. The health and well-being of women in India directly impact our social, economic, and demographic stability, and as such, should be elevated to a national security priority.
India’s demographic dividend, often touted as a boon, is, in reality, a double-edged sword. With a large and youthful population, India has the potential to harness the demographic dividend and drive economic growth. However, this potential can only be realised if the nation invests in the health and well-being of its female population.
Firstly, the well-being of women is crucial for a healthier and more productive citizenry. Healthy women are more likely to participate in the labour force, leading to increased economic growth. Ensuring access to quality healthcare, including maternal and reproductive health services, can significantly reduce maternal mortality rates, thus safeguarding the lives of women who are critical to the future of our workforce.
Secondly, women’s healthcare is tied to national stability. A population that faces high rates of maternal mortality, infant mortality, and health disparities is more likely to be burdened by social issues, including poverty, illiteracy, and gender-based violence. Moreover, gender disparities in healthcare perpetuate socio-economic inequalities, hindering the nation’s progress.
The challenges surrounding women's health are multifaceted, but a primary concern is the cultural pressure that often discourages women from prioritising their own well-being. Caregivers, typically women, find themselves lacking the time and emotional capacity to attend to their own health. This is a situation that necessitates a collective shift in our societal mindset.
The analogy of the airline safety video provides a poignant lesson: "In case of any emergency, please wear your oxygen mask before assisting your child or parent." This simple yet powerful message encapsulates the essence of what we must convey to Indian women, and importantly enable it.
It is a fundamental right that every woman should have access to preventive healthcare services from the grassroots level. To achieve this, we need to invest in women's health programs that cater to their unique needs. It is not merely a matter of choice but an obligation we owe to the women of our nation. Data and facts reveal that investing in women's health has a cascading effect on the well-being of families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
India has high maternal mortality rate. Moreover, approximately 50 million women in India face reproductive health challenges, with nearly half of women of reproductive age suffering from anaemia, leading to complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, breast cancer and cervical cancer remain the most prevalent cancers among Indian women. Women face distinctive healthcare challenges and frequently receive diagnoses at advanced disease stages. Notably, chronic ailments such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes stand as the foremost contributors to female mortality. These statistics underscore the urgent imperative of enhancing access to high-quality healthcare services for women across the nation.
India's healthcare system is grappling with a shortage of healthcare professionals. Furthermore, healthcare resources are predominantly concentrated in urban areas, leaving individuals in rural regions with limited options and often resorting to unqualified providers, yielding inconsistent outcomes. The gender disparity within the healthcare system exacerbates the challenges faced by women in India. Of all healthcare workers in the country, nearly two-thirds are men. This gender imbalance is particularly pronounced in rural areas, where only 6 per cent of all doctors are women. As a result, there are approximately a mere 0.5 female allopathic physicians per 10,000 individuals in rural areas, underscoring the adverse effects of this geographical bias on women's access to healthcare.
The substantial increase in the number of women entering the workforce in India in recent years, it underscores the importance of tackling the distinctive healthcare challenges faced by women in work settings. India's female workforce faces a myriad of impediments in accessing healthcare services. Long-standing societal norms, time constraints, and limited mobility frequently obstruct the timely delivery of medical care to these women. This prompts the question: Can digital preventive healthcare become a universal commitment that India can make, leveraging its extensive digital public infrastructure? Will a private-public partnership even be possible, considering abysmal private sector willingness for working with lower-priced health services?
Enhancing women's healthcare in India could be helped by improving access to health insurance. Many women, especially those residing in rural areas, lack coverage under any health insurance, compelling them to bear the brunt of exorbitant out-of-pocket medical expenses. This financial burden often results in women postponing or forgoing vital medical treatments, posing grave threats to their health and overall well-being. A crucial step is to render health insurance more affordable, possibly by providing subsidies and financial incentives to encourage women to purchase insurance policies, tailored specifically to women's needs.
Women's healthcare must be unequivocally granted the status of national security priority. This would also necessitate increased governmental budgetary allocation for women's healthcare. When we disregard the healthcare needs of half our population, we weaken the very foundation of our nation.
To successfully integrate women’s healthcare into national security, a multi-pronged approach is essential. It demands a collaborative effort between the central government and states, focusing on creating specialised policies, allocating sufficient resources, and fostering coordination to implement effective healthcare programs. The rationale is crystal clear: a healthy female population is the backbone of a thriving society. Healthy women lead to healthy families, strong communities, and a robust economy. Recognising women’s healthcare as a national security issue also aligns with India’s international commitments, and will be a global first, showing the way for other nations to follow suit.
Dr. Srinath Sridharan - Author, Policy Researcher & Corporate advisor. X : @ssmumbai
