It is time that there is a deep rethink on India’s healthcare system. What passes off, as a healthcare system today is a number of ill-equipped apathetic under funded government hospitals, which are hotbeds of corruption and squalor.

Being essentially free of charge, the government hospitals are unable to attract good doctors or invest in modern facilities, while attracting large numbers of poor patients. Black markets and corruption are the inevitable result.

Its time to move away from “free” medical care to a co-payment model. The health insurance system is totally isolated from hospitals and pharmacies. These have to be brought together into a coherent healthcare system - not an easy task for any country, but nevertheless one of the top social priorities for India. The involvement of the private sector into the public healthcare system will be a necessary first step.

AIDS is shocking because of sheer numbers - but there are a number of deadly diseases that diminish lives in India. Along with specific campaigns to tackle ‘branded’ diseases it is equally important to put in place a healthcare system that can take care of a billion Indians; a large number of whom earn less than one dollar a day.