INDIA NEEDS UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

 

When I was a child a very poor family lived in our neighbourhood . they struggled to get two meals a day . one day their new born babt got serious diarrhea . they went to nearby public hospital but required drugs were not present . the poor family cant afford appointment, let alone treatment in  private hospitals . they left to the nearby city hospital with the baby . I was not able to know what happened to them but I know that half the people in the world do not receive the healthcare they want

In this situation, universal health coverage can be a boon . who defines universal health coverage as : ensuring everyone everywhere can ensure quality health services without facing any financial burden . who ramked india 57^th in global health security index stating poor condition of indian healthcare

Human capital with youngest population is seen as India’s asset to dominate the world. In order to transform our population in to human capital we need to provide them with skills and quality health care but the issues in health sector are seen as challenges for India to emerge as healthy and successful nation. How to overcome these challenges?

They are essentially three ways to provide universal health care. First System is Socialized medicine, In this case all hospitals would be owned by the government and all doctors and nurses would be government employees. United Kingdom’s National Health Service is an example. Second system is Single payer system; under this government provide health insurance for everyone. Canada health care is an example for this. The third system is to allow private insurance companies but regulate them and mandate everyone to purchase health insuranceUSA health care is an example for this. What is India’s model of Universal health care?

With the aim of achieving universal health coverage and delivering quality health care to all at affordable cost India has formulated National Health policy 2017. Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana which covers 5 lakh per family per year state sponsored medical insurance at both private and public hospitals is also part this national health

 According to the scheme primary health care will be provided by the state for free of cost at primary health care centres and secondary, tertiary health care will be provided under Jan arogya yojana Thus India’s health care model has both state regulation and choice to the consumer. What are the challenges to this envisaged model?

Challenges :?? 3 pages
Major challenges to Indian Health care system are firstly, Weak primary health sector.. Statistics like 614 people for one hospital bed in Goa compared to 8780 people per one hospital bed in Bihar highlights the regional variation in access to quality primary health care.
Second challenge is Unequal distribution of skilled human resource. There aren’t enough skilled healthcare professionals in India despite recent increases in MBBS programmes and nursing courses. According to Lancet health journal, Community health centres in rural areas of many states ranging from Gujarat to West Bengal has shortfall of specialists exceeding more than 80 %.

Lack of overarching national policy on human resources for health, urban centric work preference of health staff, insufficient number of medical colleges are seen as reasons for unequal distribution.leading to Incidents like death of nine day old baby in 2015 at a government hospital in Bihar’s Darbhanga district due to rat bite

Third challenge Is growth of  unregulated private sector run by  unqualified or under qualified people. National Sample survey Office (NSSO) data has show a decrease in the use of public hospitals over the past two decades .Now only 32 % of urban Indians use them compared to 43 % in 1995-96

Apart from the above three challenges Low public spending on health i.e. 1.2 % of GDP , Fragmented health information system i.e. incomplete , duplicated, poor disease surveillance data , Irrational use and spiraling cost of drugs , Weak governance and accountability of health systems and economic challenges like low gdp growth ,lack of political will, Bureacratic apathy are observed as key challenges in ensuring Universal health coverage.

Why india should ensure ? significance 3 pages

Ancient India is a treasury for medical knowledge .Ancient test like Charakasamhita and Susrutasamhita are the oldest known texts on medicine in the world. This amply proves that ancient Indians were much ahead of their times in the field of medicine. To bring back that past glory and to reconquer the world we need to built a robust health system with universal coverage

Bring medical tourism to india increase in gdp

Moreexpenditure on oter things..high standard of living

Increase in labor force participation

In sync with sdg goal 3 make india famous

Indian efforts and way forward ?? 2 pages
In order to address these challenges government has come up with many legislative and executive actions from time and then. Policies like Pradhan mantra Swasthya Suraksha Yoajana to address regional imbalances in availability and affordability of health care services , National Rural and Urban Health missions for providing universal access to quality health care.

Also focus on prevention of disease rather than cure

To address administrative and accountability issues legislations like National Medical Commission Bill 2019 were enacted. Indradhanush –Universal immunisation programme ,Janani surasha yojana and other maternity health care programmes are being implemented with the front line health works ASHA and Aganwadis to strengthen primary health care

. A network of Jan aushadi stores are established throughout the country to make medical care affordable to all. Separate AYUSH ministry was formed to promote R & D in ancient medicinal techniques.. Access to quality Health care should be made as a fundamental right like right to food and right to education.Public spending on health care should be doubled in a phased manner, technology enabled health surveillance systems need to be build to tackle pandemics. Health research needs to be fostered to make country prepare for unforeseen diseases like corona , Saras, swine flu . Health out of pocket expenditure needs to be reduced by regulating private hospitals.

Already India is largest supplier of Pharmaceuticals in the world; India is one of the top medical tourist destination.Our anicent pratices like Yoga,Ayurveda , Surya namashkaram are the modern cornerstones of the global well-being revolution. With Proactive policy measures like Ayushman bharat which are meant to revive the ancient values Arogyama Maha Bhagya (Being Healthy is great fortune) and Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavanthu(May whole wolrd be happy) India can emerge not only a healthy and successful nation leading the world in achieving Sustainable development goal 3 (Good Health and well being of all) but also as a Loka Vaidya (Global Physician)