(a) whether increasing public financing for healthcare, allotting 70 per cent
of funds for primary healthcare and regulating drug prices are the key factors
that would go towards providing universal health coverage in India; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this direction during the
Eleventh Five Year Plan, State-wise?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) & (b) Increased public financing for health care along-with regulating
drug prices are among the factors that result in providing universal health
coverage in India. In this direction, the public expenditure on health sector,
which inter-alia includes primary healthcare, increased substantially over the
past few years. During the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-08 to 2011-2012), the
actual allocation to health sector increased to Rs. 99191 crore as against an
actual expenditure of Rs, 36079 crore in the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-03 to
2006-07).
“Health†being a State subject, it is primarily the responsibility of
State Governments to ensure adequate, affordable and accessible health care to
its citizens by taking necessary steps to increase the public financing. However,
to improve access to primary and secondary health delivery services, Government of
India provides financial assistance to State Governments for up-gradation of health
infrastructure development as per need. State-wise allocation of funds by Union
Government in respect of National Rural Health Mission and National Aids Control
Programme for the years 2007-08 and 2010-11 is at annexure. Similarly, opening of
Jan Aushadhi Stores to make available quality generic medicines at affordable
prices to all would also help in providing universal health coverage. So far, 81
Jan Aushadhi Stores have been opened in the States of Punjab (20), Rajasthan (36),
Haryana (04), Uttarakhand (02), Andhra Pradesh (03), Odisha (08), West Bengal (02),
Delhi (03) and Chandigarh (03).