Challenges to Achieve Universal Health Coverage

Firstly, wide disparity in the quality of healthcare services in the public and private sector as regulatory standards are neither established nor enforced properly by the Government of India.

• Secondly, the issue of local quacks and traditional healers treating patients at the grass-root level is a serious concern. This is connected to the poor availability of healthcare services and service providers in rural areas. The government has not formulated any Bill to curb these malpractices.
• Thirdly, the non-affordability of healthcare services is a major problem with the vast majority of our people. As a result, they are impoverished because of high out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures. They also suffer the adverse consequences of the poor quality of care.
• Fourthly, the coverage is still not universal but linked to poverty. Government should de-link current provision of entitlement based on poverty line.

Ways to Improve

There is a huge potential for the government, academia and private sector to actively engage with each other to achieve UHC and SDGs.

• Currently, major animosity exists between the government, academia, and private sector with each speaking their own language and in their own silos and for their own benefit. They are like three corners of a rigid triangle. This engagement has to be active, visionary and intensive, creating a win-win situation under the strong stewardship of the government.
• The Indian people deserve, desire and demand an efficient and equitable health system which can provide UHC. This needs sustained financial support, strong political will and leadership, dedication of public health functionaries and other stake holders as well as active participation of the community in the absence of which the realization of the goal of achieving UHC by 2022 will remain a utopian concept.