Universal healthcare: India races against time; experts call for scaling infrastructure, delivery system
Dec 11,2023
New Delhi: In a race against time, India strives to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, with the clock ticking loudly towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.8. The ambitious Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), launched in September 2018, has been a significant leap towards this goal, providing health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to millions of families.
However, experts and healthcare leaders stress the urgency of scaling up both infrastructure and the delivery system to overcome the challenges in the next seven years. Driven by the dual burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases, India must act swiftly to address the rising healthcare demands. As the non-communicable disease burden is predicted to cost $6 trillion by 2030, robust collaboration between public and private healthcare providers becomes imperative.
“India has made significant progress towards achieving UHC. We must now focus on rational regulations and policies that support our ambitious goal. Collaborative efforts are key; this includes active participation from governments, healthcare providers, and financial institutions to build a framework promoting seamless cooperation," said Sugandh Ahulwalia, Chief Strategy Officer, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), New Delhi.
“The private sector can play a pivotal role in bridging the gaps in service delivery. Public-private partnerships and promotional policies can ensure quality healthcare services are accessible to all. The Union and State governments need to accelerate their move towards mandatory health insurance is a step in the right direction, offering a safety net for individuals and contributing to effective population health management," added Ahluwalia.
The implementation of AB-PMJAY, the world's largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, has showcased significant progress. SP Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Health, Government of India in a reply to the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session, claimed substantial out-of-pocket expenditure savings related to hospitalisations for the targeted beneficiaries. With a total of 3.14 crore beneficiaries benefiting in the last two years and a central share of funds amounting to ₹6,048 crore released for the financial year 2022-23, the scheme has made substantial strides.
"We've witnessed remarkable success with AB-PMJAY, benefiting over three crore families. The scheme's expansion to cover 12 crore beneficiary families, and even up to 15.5 crore families in some states, reflects its positive impact. The scheme, coupled with the ambitious goal of achieving UHC, aligns with our commitment to building a healthier India," Baghel had informed the Parliament.
Source: Healthworld