Health for All: Assessing India's Progress Towards Universal Healthcare
India's 'Health for All' campaign faces challenges despite progress in healthcare access and affordability.
Photo by Navy Medicine
Background Context
Why It Matters Now
Key Takeaways
- •Ayushman Bharat has significantly increased health insurance coverage.
- •Public health spending in India remains low compared to global standards.
- •Shortage of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff is a major bottleneck.
- •Disparities in healthcare access between urban and rural areas persist.
- •Strengthening primary healthcare is crucial for achieving 'Health for All'.
Different Perspectives
- •Government view: Significant strides made through flagship schemes and increased budgetary allocations.
- •Expert view: Progress is slow, and fundamental issues like low public spending and human resource gaps need urgent attention.
India's 'Health for All' campaign, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) for good health and well-being, is making progress but faces significant challenges. While initiatives like Ayushman Bharat have expanded health insurance coverage and reduced out-of-pocket expenditure for millions, issues such as inadequate public health spending, shortage of healthcare professionals, and disparities in access to quality care persist. The article highlights that India's public health spending remains below the global average, impacting infrastructure and human resources.
Achieving universal health coverage requires a multi-pronged approach, including increased budgetary allocation, strengthening primary healthcare, and leveraging technology. The campaign's success is vital for India's human development index and equitable growth.
Key Facts
India's public health spending is below global average.
Challenges include shortage of healthcare professionals and infrastructure.
Ayushman Bharat aims to provide health insurance coverage.
WHO recommends 5% of GDP spending on health; India spends around 2.1%.
UPSC Exam Angles
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.
Constitutional provisions related to public health and the division of powers between Centre and States.
India's progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3.
Visual Insights
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding India's progress towards 'Health for All': 1. Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) specifically aims for 'Good Health and Well-being' for all at all ages. 2. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) primarily focuses on strengthening comprehensive primary healthcare through Health and Wellness Centres. 3. India's public health spending, as a percentage of GDP, is currently below the global average for developing countries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.2 and 3 only
Show Answer
Answer: C
Statement 1 is correct. SDG 3 is indeed focused on 'Good Health and Well-being'. Statement 2 is incorrect. PMJAY focuses on providing health insurance coverage for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, reducing out-of-pocket expenditure. The Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) component of Ayushman Bharat focuses on comprehensive primary healthcare, but PMJAY itself is not primarily about HWCs. Statement 3 is correct. The article explicitly states that India's public health spending remains below the global average.
2. In the context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. UHC implies that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. 2. A key dimension of UHC is ensuring access to a full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. 3. In India, achieving UHC primarily relies on a fully tax-funded model, minimizing the role of health insurance and private sector participation. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 2 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: C
Statement 1 is correct. This is the widely accepted definition of UHC by the World Health Organization (WHO). Statement 2 is correct. UHC encompasses the entire spectrum of essential health services. Statement 3 is incorrect. India's approach to UHC, particularly through Ayushman Bharat, involves a mixed model with significant reliance on health insurance (PMJAY) and engagement with the private sector, alongside public health infrastructure. It is not solely a fully tax-funded model.
3. Which of the following statements correctly reflects the constitutional and policy framework for public health in India? 1. 'Public Health and Sanitation' is primarily a subject under the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. 2. The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) include provisions that obligate the state to endeavor to improve public health and raise the level of nutrition. 3. The National Health Policy 2017 aimed to increase public health expenditure to 2.5% of the GDP by 2025. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 1 is incorrect. 'Public Health and Sanitation' is primarily a State List subject (Entry 6 of List II). While some aspects like population control and family planning are in the Concurrent List, the core subject is with the states. Statement 2 is correct. Article 47 of the DPSP states, 'The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties.' Statement 3 is correct. The National Health Policy 2017 indeed set a target to increase public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025.
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