The biggest recipients of investment through aid programmes of rich nations have been the large commercial hospital chains in the emerging economy countries. Limited to a few million dollars till some years ago, the trend has picked up internationally with hundreds of dollars doled out to corporate chains. Indian corporate hospital chains have been the biggest beneficiaries of such aid programmes. Experts have raised concerns about issues of equity and poverty redressal.  Authors of a recent editorial in British Medical Journal Benjamin M Hunter and Susan F Murray of King’s College London, UK, carried out a preliminary analysis of investment commitments to private hospitals and clinics by international development finance institutions. They found that at least $2.3bn has been committed by them of which $1.9bn had been committed in the last eight years.

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