Private health system in India and neonatal care

The private health sector is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of health care in general and neonatal care in particular in India. The roles of the private sector in various levels of neonatal care are enumerated and the constraints faced by the private sector are discussed in this article. Cost of neonatal care, particularly tertiary care remains high. Health insurance has begun to recognize the newborn as a distinct entity and is now providing for neonatal care in the corporate sector. The private sector is also participating in teaching and training of doctors in Pediatrics and Neonatology. Other potential areas of participation of the private sector are neonatal nursing, data analysis, research and clinical epidemiology.