Universal Health Coverage in India
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by Rudraneel
Dear Readers,
Greetings from the bureau of The Advance Directive.
Today, I bring to you some landmark news from real life which is going to have an effect on you and me equally.
I am pleased to inform you all that in line with legislating the National Health Act and the Planning Commission's pointers in the 12th Five Year Plan, the Government of Maharashtra has proposed a system on similar lines to entail a public health legislation in the State.
What this means for all of us, is that, for the first time in India, we are taking baby-steps towards realizing the system of Universal Health Coverage. This is a landmark effort in congruence with Article 21 of the Constitution of India which, in its due process reading, guarantees the right to health within the right to life and personal liberty.
"Universal health coverage" refers to a scenario where everyone is covered for basic healthcare services. This is a scheme, under which all Indian citizens, regardless of their economic, social or cultural backgrounds will have the right to affordable, accountable and appropriate health services of assured quality defined in a published package of services and benefits.
Access to health care will be paid for by the Government of India, with funds generated through taxes along with an increased spending on public health to pay for the health services given to citizens. The system will be ‘cashless’ where patients will not be charged any user fees for health care services provided.
I am also sharing this great news with all of you, that I have been invited to assist the Government of Maharashtra in formulating the Policy document on Universal Health Coverage, and I would also be an integral part of drafting the legislation which would bring this system to place.
I shall keep sharing with you regular inputs from Ground Zero of this drafting process, and I hope you would contribute fruitfully with any suggestions that you deem to put forth to the Government.
This means that for a few days, I shall be on the 2-click routine for the game. I believe nobody would mind that. My inputs towards governance and my Party would not cease though.
Here are some links for your additional reading, if you wish to pursue:
FAQ on UHC system from Public Health Foundation of India
High Level Expert Group Report on UHC in India (instituted by the Planning Commission of India) [PDF]
Best wishes,
Rudraneel
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Comments
good luck for this mission..!!!
Thank you, Abhinay. Much appreciated. 🙂
Good luck but can you explain what is new in this proposal. At this time also (if my understanding is correct) India have kind of universal health care (probably with some user fees) and anybody can go to the government hospital and nobody (who can afford) want to go to government hospital due to known reasons. Just concerned that it may be another populist scheme to siphon off public money.
This is just a question and I am sure you will your best to make good and effective policy.
Darn. I typed in a detailed reply - submitted it - said "CSRF attack detected".
Voosh! Everything gone.
Give me some time to respond. I shall reply to it in the best manner possible.
Thanks. Look forward to it.
Currently, we do have a National Rural Health Mission in place which emphasizes on expanding the coverage of primary health care. However, there is little incentive in this current system. The practitioners are enrolled on a very competitive basis but with very low wage-salaries. Plus, people have to pay for the services.
In the UHC, the system would be absolutely cashless and the programme would include urban and rural care equally. The doctors would be paid according to the uniform fee matrix, in terms of number of people they have treated/prescribed on the basis of the disorder/disease or diagnosis. Eg: All doctors under the UHC will be paid Rs. 300 for treating a patient with Class A Tuberculosis. Similarly, all doctors would be uniformly paid Rs. 100 for a regular viral checkup. (rates are representational only)
Therefore, the people have nothing to lose here. Doctors would be encouraged to keep all facilities up-to-date in their practice centres. Moreover, private entities will also be part of it.
Speciality care is also to be included within the UHC. Practitioners of ayurveda, homoeopathy, unani etc will also be trained to enter the system with the bias removed. Number of nurse practitioners is also to be increased to expand the access to primary health coverage within the system.
The regulatory mechanism for this system would be much tougher than the present one. Thus, no doctors can maliciously diagnose chronic diseases just to gain more money from the prescriptions. Punishments would be of criminal nature in order to form a stricter control over the doctors.
I hope this addresses your query. If there is anything further, please do ask me. I would be happy to respond.
Thanks Rudraneel and wish you all success.
good luck buddy !
Thank you, Kartik.
v&s
Thank you, Lysander. Means a lot to me.
Congratulations Rudraneel and all the best! It is an honour to see a player ingame being part of a policy defining decision in real life.
I do hope you shall do your best and it will in some small part help us all truly get quality health benefits that we so severely lack!
o7
good luck bro