{"id":36253,"date":"2025-01-27T18:55:30","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T13:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=36253"},"modified":"2025-01-27T18:55:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T13:25:31","slug":"universal-health-coverage-uhc-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/27-01-2025\/universal-health-coverage-uhc-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Syllabus: GS2\/Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • The excerpt from “Mission Possible” <\/strong>by Swami Subramanian and Aparajithan Srivathsan presents a visionary roadmap for achieving UHC in India, emphasizing the importance of technology, team-based care, and a strong public health system.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    About Universal Health Coverage (UHC)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • It is a global health objective aimed at ensuring that everyone can access essential health services without facing financial hardship. It encompasses the full range of health services, from health promotion and prevention<\/strong> to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care<\/strong>, and is a critical component of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Key Components of UHC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Availability<\/strong>: Adequate health services in sufficient quantity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Accessibility<\/strong>: Equal access regardless of location or socio-economic status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Affordability<\/strong>: Health services without financial strain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Quality<\/strong>: High-quality services meeting population needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        Health and the Indian Constitution<\/strong>
        – State List (List II, Schedule VII)<\/strong>: Public health, sanitation, hospitals, and dispensaries.
        – Concurrent List (List III, Schedule VII)<\/strong>: Family welfare, population control, medical education, and prevention of food adulteration.
        – Article 263<\/strong>: Establishes the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare<\/strong> for policymaking in health and family welfare matters.
        – Right to Health<\/strong>: Interpreted by the judiciary as part of the Right to Life (Article 21)<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Challenges in Achieving UHC in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE)<\/strong>: Despite government health expenditure rising to 1.84% of GDP<\/strong> (2021-22), OOPE remains a significant burden for many households.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Limited Health Insurance Coverage<\/strong>: The \u2018missing middle\u2019\u2014a segment of the population without insurance\u2014remains financially vulnerable to medical expenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Resource Constraints<\/strong>: Shortages in financial, clinical, and infrastructural resources, especially in low-income regions, hinder healthcare delivery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Rising Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)<\/strong>: Growing prevalence of NCDs demands a shift toward preventive care and long-term management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Public-Private Collaboration<\/strong>: Stronger partnerships are needed to expand healthcare access and improve service delivery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Digital Transformation<\/strong>: While promising, implementing digital solutions in healthcare faces challenges like infrastructure gaps and digital literacy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Key Recommendations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • Leveraging Modern Technology:<\/strong> Technology acts as the \u201cglue\u201d binding a network of healthcare workers, from community health workers to specialists in tertiary hospitals.\n
              \n
            • Integrated health teams using tools like mobile phones and electronic medical records can enhance efficiency and accessibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Strengthening the Public Health System: <\/strong>The Bhore Committee report (1946)<\/strong> laid the foundation for India\u2019s public health system with its three-tier model integrating preventive and curative care.\n
                \n
              • Improving public health as the primary provider of promotive, preventive, and curative services, reducing health expenditure while ensuring quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Integration of private healthcare with the national system can improve access and outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Creating an Integrated Health System:<\/strong>\u00a0 The Public Health Foundation of India recommends:\n
                  \n
                • Universal Health Insurance to protect against financial hardship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Establishing autonomous organizations for evidence-based healthcare practices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Training appropriately skilled healthcare workers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Decentralizing and coordinating health governance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Legislating health entitlement for all Indians.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Community Health Worker Teams:<\/strong> Community health workers can perform 75% of a doctor\u2019s duties, enabling local access to healthcare.\n
                    \n
                  • Each worker would serve a population of 40,000, supported by a 75-bed district hospital for tertiary care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Training MBBS and MSc biotech students in community medicine for three months would prepare them for grassroots healthcare.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Indian Medical Service (IMS):<\/strong> Proposal for creating an Indian Medical Service (IMS) similar to the IAS, with advanced certification (MD) holders managing state-level healthcare.\n
                      \n
                    • This would improve governance and ensure professional management of public health systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Role of Private and Specialty Care:<\/strong>\n
                        \n
                      • Private medical centers and foundations should coexist with public healthcare to expand quality care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Examples from South India\u2019s ophthalmology institutions demonstrate the success of a pyramidal four-tier model, where local eyecare workers connect with world-class research centers using advanced technologies for diagnosis and treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Road to UHC:<\/strong> Aadhaar-like identification systems for healthcare delivery.\n
                          \n
                        • World-class medical facilities in each state (e.g., AIIMS, Delhi; NIMS, Hyderabad).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                          Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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