India’s problem of overtreatment and overmedication

Source: The post “India’s problem of overtreatment and overmedication ” has been created based on “India’s problem of overtreatment and overmedication ” published in “The Hindu” on 14th October 2026.

UPSC Syllabus: GS-2-Governance

Context: In India, Over-treatment and Over-medication is increasing healthcare expenditure, exposing patients to avoidable risks and diverting resources from essential primary healthcare. The problem arises from a combination of fragmented healthcare services, financial incentives, patient expectations and inadequate medical coordination. This needs to be addressed.

About Over-treatment and Over-medication

1. Over-treatment refers to unnecessary medical tests, procedures and interventions that provide little or no benefit to patients.
2. Over-medication occurs when patients are prescribed or consume medicines that are unnecessary or inappropriate for their medical condition.

Causes of over-treatment and over-medication

1. Unnecessary testing: Excessive screening and diagnostic tests can cause false-positive results, anxiety, overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.
2. Fragmented healthcare: Excessive dependence on specialists leads to multiple prescriptions without considering the patient’s overall health.
3. Polypharmacy: Polypharmacy is the concurrent use of multiple medications by a patient. A 2021 review reported polypharmacy among about 49% of older adults in India, while a 2025 study found that nearly one-third took five or more prescribed medicines.
4. Commercialisation of healthcare: Fee-for-service payments and the sale of tests and procedures can encourage unnecessary medical interventions.
5. Health insurance: Insurance may encourage patients and hospitals to prefer costlier interventions, even when they are not medically necessary.
6. Patient expectations: Patients may consider multiple medicines and investigations essential for satisfactory treatment.
7. Defensive medicine: Doctors may order additional tests to avoid missing rare diagnoses, despite the risks associated with testing.

Consequences

1. Unnecessary medical interventions can cause avoidable complications, infections and treatment-related harm.
2. Excessive medicines can increase adverse drug reactions and may expose patients to inappropriate or unnecessary medication.
3. Rising medical expenditure creates financial stress for patients and increases pressure on health insurance systems.
4. Over-treatment can reduce trust between doctors and patients and divert resources from essential healthcare.

Way forward

1. Strengthen primary healthcare: General physicians should coordinate treatment and refer patients to specialists when necessary.
2. Promote evidence-based medicine: Doctors should follow clinical guidelines and prescribe medicines only when medically justified.
3. Improve medical coordination: Electronic health records and shared medical histories can prevent duplicate tests and prescriptions.
4. Encourage deprescribing: Doctors should regularly review medicines and discontinue unnecessary prescriptions under appropriate supervision.
5. Reform incentives: Payment systems should reward quality, patient outcomes and appropriate care rather than the volume of procedures.
6. Raise awareness: Patients should be encouraged to ask about the necessity, benefits, risks and alternatives of proposed treatments.
7. Strengthen regulation: Medical associations, professional bodies and policymakers should promote rational prescribing and develop India-specific clinical guidelines.

Conclusion: Over-treatment and over-medication are not merely medical problems; they also reflect weaknesses in healthcare delivery, financing and regulation. India must shift from a treatment-intensive approach towards patient-centred, evidence-based and affordable healthcare. Strengthening primary care, improving medical coordination and promoting rational prescribing can protect patients, reduce unnecessary expenditure and ensure that healthcare resources are used where they are most needed.

Question: Over-treatment and over-medication have emerged as major challenges to India’s healthcare system. Discuss the causes, consequences and measures needed to address this problem.

Source: The Hindu