India Fears Leap Forward Without Strong Healthcare Infrastructure as Universal Health Coverage Day Observed

On Universal Health Coverage Day 2024, Hinduja Foundation President Paul Abraham highlighted that India has made substantial progress in its pursuit of universal health coverage through initiatives such as the National Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat. However, significant challenges remain to be addressed.

Abraham stated that while India stands at a pivotal moment with a vision to become a developed nation by 2047, the healthcare sector is central to this goal but is facing numerous hurdles, including inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and high out-of-pocket expenses.

Experts warn that if not addressed swiftly, these challenges may hinder India's journey towards universal health coverage. Current statistics show that about 60 per cent of health expenditures in India are out-of-pocket, which is significantly higher than countries like China and Brazil.

To strengthen India's healthcare infrastructure, the country can draw inspiration from global best practices such as Singapore's integrated public-private healthcare system and the World Health Organization's (WHO) global health initiatives.

Singapore's model provides an effective balance between public and private healthcare, while maintaining affordability. In contrast, WHO programs have shown significant success in combatting diseases like malaria and tuberculosis through targeted efforts.

With ambitious targets to increase hospital beds and doctors by 2047, India needs a multi-pronged approach to address systemic weaknesses. To build strong infrastructure, the government should invest heavily in healthcare facilities while also incentivizing medical professionals to work in rural areas.

Experts suggest several steps forward for policy reform:

• Expanding schemes like Ayushman Bharat to ensure universal health coverage
• Increasing public funding of health expenditure from 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2025
• Implementing measures to incentivize medical professionals to work in rural areas

India's pharma industry is a global leader, and the country can leverage this expertise to create a hub for medical tourism and telehealth services globally.

With Collective Efforts, India Can Achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2047

As India strives to become a developed nation by 2047, strengthening its healthcare infrastructure is crucial. By adopting strategic reforms, collaborating with governments, private sectors, and philanthropic organizations, India can create a resilient healthcare system that sets an example for the world. The journey towards universal health coverage will require cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure none are left behind in this critical endeavor.

A strong foundation of policies, pharma leadership, robust healthcare initiatives, digital technology integration and quality infrastructure is necessary. Therefore it is imperative to have concerted efforts towards creating a system that is efficient, accessible, affordable and sustainable.