Question : UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

(a) the details of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) along with the manner in which UHC is being implemented uniformly across the country;

(b) whether a high level group of experts headed by Professor K. Srinath Reddy was constituted by the Government with regard to UHC and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the said group has submitted its report to the Government, if so, the details thereof along with the follow-up action taken by the Government thereon;

(d) whether pilot projects are being implemented under UHC in various States/ UTs across the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof, project and State/UT-wise?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a): Moving towards Universal Health Coverage wherein people are able to use quality health services that they need without suffering financial hardship is a key goal of 12th Plan. Public Health is a state subject. The primary vehicle to strengthen public health systems in the states for moving towards UHC is the National Health Mission - which subsumes both the National Rural Health Mission, which was initiated in 2005 and the National Urban Health Mission which has been initiated in 2013. The Framework for Implementation of National Health Mission (NHM) is in accord with the key objectives of the 12th Plan. India has charted a path that depends largely on provision of affordable, quality health care by the public health system as its main form of social protection, with supplementation from the private sector to close gaps. Public Health being a state subject, States are being supported to move towards the goal of Universal Health Coverage. Various services for maternal health, child health, family planning, universal immunisation programme, and for major diseases such as TB, vector borne diseases such as Malaria, dengue and kalazar, HIV/AIDS, leprosy etc are being provided free of cost. Other major initiatives to reduce out of pocket spending and improve health for which states are being supported include Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), implementation of National Health Mission Free Drugs Service Initiative and National Health Mission Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, roll out of Universal Health Coverage pilots, strengthening primary healthcare and District Hospitals and implementation of National Quality Assurance Framework to improve quality in public health facilities. RSBY provides free hospital care upto Rs 30,000 to poor and vulnerable families.

(b) & (c): Yes. The recommendations of the High Level Expert Group (HLEG) on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) are available in public domain at http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/rep_uhc0812.pdf. Many of the major recommendations of HLEG on UHC have been suitably included in the Health Chapter of the Twelfth Five Year Plan for implementation and in the Framework of Implementation of the National Health Mission.

(d) & (e): Public Health being a state subject, under the NHM, support is being provided to States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare system including for implementing UHC pilots based on the proposal submitted by the State/UT Governments.

In 2013-14, approvals under NHM have been given for UHC pilots in Kerala and Karnataka. In 2014-15, approvals under NHM have been given for UHC pilots in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab and Rajasthan.