Statement-I: India’s public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.
Statement-II: Under India’s decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Statement-I is correct: India’s public health system has historically been more focused on curative care (treating diseases after they occur) rather than preventive care (stopping diseases before they occur), promotive care (improving overall health and well-being), and rehabilitative care (helping patients recover after illness or injury). Statement-II is correct: India follows a decentralized approach to health care delivery. The responsibility for organizing and delivering health services lies primarily with the state governments. The central government plays a supportive role by providing policy guidance, funding, and technical assistance. The Constitution of India places health care under the State List (List II) which means states have the primary responsibility for health services. The central government’s role is largely limited to national health programs, policy formulation, and funding through schemes like the National Health Mission (NHM). Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I: The decentralized nature of health care delivery (Statement-II) does not inherently explain why the system focuses more on curative care (Statement-I). The focus on curative care is more related to historical priorities, resource allocation, and systemic challenges rather than the decentralized structure.