Insurance-driven health care weakening public system, experts warn in Kerala

Health economist V. Ramankutty, opening a Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad seminar in Thrissur, said a nexus between insurance companies and private hospitals is exploiting patients and weakening public health care. He warned rising insurance penetration could cut government health budgets. Experts urged higher public spending, tighter regulation of private players and lower out-of-pocket costs.