Why availability of affordable health care services are considered as privileges rather than the basic fundamental right?
The most classic and widely accepted model of Universal Health Coverage is of UK ( United Kingdom). It is successful because of its universal accessibility of various free services to all the residents of the country irrespective of their age, socio-economic status and other health care services made affordable leading to improved overall health outcomes.
India becoming signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, formally adopted UHC as a national objective & launched Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Ayushman Bharat Scheme in the year 2018.
World’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme
Covers ~40% of India’s population (poor and vulnerable families)
Provides:
• ₹5 lakh per family per year
• Cashless treatment
• Secondary and tertiary care
• Public and empanelled private hospitals
Establishing Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
• Transforming Sub-Centres and PHC’s into Comprehensive Primary Health Care hubs
• Provides:
o Maternal & child health
o NCD screening (diabetes, hypertension, cancers)
o Mental health services
o Geriatric and palliative care
o Free essential drugs and diagnostics
Brighter aspect of this scheme launched is approximately 50 crore are the beneficiaries till 2025 but still we are way behind what other developed countries like UK, Canada, Japan have achieved. India is on the path to Universal Health Coverage, with Ayushman Bharat as its cornerstone but achieving “Health for all” will require sustained investment, system strengthening, and equity-focused reforms. India is spending approximately less than 3% of GDP in health sector which is three times less as compared to other countries.For achieving universal health coverage, we have to have a very strong primary health care services focussing on preventive services rather than curative and rehabilitative services. Do we really have that mindset ?
MBH/AB