[Answered] Universal Health Care must encompass primary, secondary, and tertiary care for all who need it, and at affordable cost without discrimination. Examine the statement.

The concept of universal health coverage (UHC) was first proposed by the Bhore Committee in 1946. UHC entails ensuring all people have access to quality health services- including prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation – without incurring financial hardship. The concept covers three key elements — access, quality, and financial protection. India is committed to achieving Universal Health care for all by 2030, which is fundamental to achieving the other Sustainable Development Goals.

What steps are required to provide UHC?

• Health Services:Prioritise health services which are of most significance to reducing mortality and morbidity. There is need to invest in pre-service medical and paramedical education and also engage in multi-sectoral partnerships to address determinants of health.
• Finance: Increase domestic resource mobilisation and budget re-allocation at frequent intervals. Focus should be on efficient and judicious time-bound utilisation of financial resources.
• Equity:  safety net approaches including vouchers and conditional cash-transfers should be expanded and alsoexpand service delivery for marginalised and vulnerable groups.
• Preparedness:  State level and international collaborations should be enhanced to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies such as epidemics/pandemics.
• Governance:Ensure that all citizens have access to data and information on UHC. For this strengthen national institutions and organisations through capacity building and use effective mechanisms for inter-sectoral dialogue and work.
• India needs to own its digital health strategy that works and leads towards UHC and person-centered care. E.g. Online consultation through video conferencing

Issues:

• There are not enough government-run institutions for the poor who cannot afford exploitative and expensive private care. There is a need for public healthcare centers to prevent wasteful expenditure.  
• Another challenge is regulating private health-care providers. As they have a conflict between the profit motive and the well-being of the patient.
• The National Health Service model needs to have not only good management and adequate resources but also sound work culture and professional ethics. India’s public health services do not have a good record on this part.
• It fails to assure accessibility or affordability as its financing is conditional to insurance premiums paid either by the individual or state.

Every individual has a right to be healed and not have complications, disability, and death. That right is guaranteed by the new global approach to UHC, where nobody is left uncounted and uncared for. For achieving the targets of Universal Health Coverage, the Government of India has implemented a flagship public health scheme – ‘Ayushman Bharat’.