India’s healthcare system is marked by inequities, as detailed in NITI Aayog’s 2021 Study on the Non- Profit Hospital Models in India. The concentration of hospital beds in urban areas, with a bed density of just 1 per 1,000 people, severely limits rural access, denying equitable care to millions in remote regions. This urban-rural divide, coupled with systemic challenges, inspired our research into the Sri Sathya Sai Hospitals’ compassionate model.
The public-private divide exacerbates these disparities. Public hospitals, offering near-free care, are overburdened, while Private hospitals, handling 55.3% of in-patient cases, often prioritize profit. The NITI Aayog report notes, Private hospitals treat 23.3% of ailments, while charitable hospitals serve only 1.1% The report also states that high out of pocket expenses, constituting 71% of healthcare costs, push 39 million people into poverty annually.
The Sri Sathya Sai Hospitals in Puttaparthi, Whitefield, Prasanthigram, and Mobile Hospitals which renders services to the people in remote villages captivated us with their mission of universal, free healthcare. Their values-driven approach also inspired our research to explore how such a model can redefine healthcare equity. This integrated model delivers primary, secondary, and tertiary care to all, regardless of socio-economic status, addressing systemic gaps through community outreach. Our research, based on a primary survey of 1600 patients across these hospitals, examines four primary objectives: Understanding the functionality and scope of medical services provided across the hospitals; Measuring patient experiences and perceptions to understand the effectiveness and humaneness of the level of quality and care; Reduction in Financial Burden – Analyzing the extent to which these institutions help patients avoid major medical expenses, including an estimation of cost savings to the patients and value addition by hospitals; Out-of-Pocket Expenditure – Assessing the residual costs borne by patients, such as transportation, accommodation, or medications (if any), outside the scope of hospital services.
In conclusion, the Sri Sathya Sai Hospitals offer a replicable blueprint for equitable healthcare. By highlighting their uniqueness, our research urges policymakers, institutions, and governments to promote charitable models, fostering a healthier, more inclusive society.