UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 2nd September

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 2nd September

Question

What is universal health coverage? Analyse the significance of universal health coverage and discuss the challenges associated with universal health coverage in India? (15 marks ,250 Words). 

Model Answer

INTRODUCTION: 

According to World health Organisation (WHO), Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. 

Status of Universal Healthcare coverage in India: 

  • Under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) 72.81 crore Ayushman Bharat health Accounts have been created. 

  • E-Sanjeevani - the National Telemedicine Service, has emerged as the world's largest telemedicine implementation in primary healthcare. 

  • AB-PMJAY reduces Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) over ₹1.25 lakh crore in savings significantly. 

Significance of Universal Health coverage: 

  1. Reduces disease burden: 

  • Due to preventive health care and early detection of diseases reduces disease burden to the country. 

  1. Built human capital: 

  • By providing better health care facilities to citizens, it contributes to better education system and produces better workforce capabilities. 

  1. Reduces out of pocket expenditure: 

  • Universal Health Coverage provides better health care facilities and no one must choose between health expenditure and financial stability. 

  • Example: Due to AB-PMJAY, Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE)reduced to ₹1.25 lakh crore in savings. 

  1. Reduces social inequalities: 

  • Universal health coverage benefited to many sections of people particularly vulnerable such as women, children, Sc and sts came out of poverty and unemployment. 

  • Example: According to the World Bank’s Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief, the nation has lifted 171 million people out of extreme poverty over the past decade. 

  1. Increase in Economic growth: 

  • Due to Healthy population and reduction in poverty countries experience faster economic growth. 

  • Example: India became the 4th largest global economy in 2025, with real GDP growing at 6.5% (2024–25). 

 Challenges associated with universal health coverage in India: 1.Inadequate public health expenditure: 

  • Compared to developed countries Indias public health expenditure is less. 

  • Example: According to 2023-24 economic survey, India is spending only 1.9 % of its budget. 

2.Weak primary health care system: 

  • Many primary health care systems lack basic facilities, preventive care facilities. 

  • Example: States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh lacks basic Primary health care centres. 

3.Poor health insurance penetration: 

  • Despite largest populous country in the world, most of the population is uninsured. 

  • Many unorganised workers exempted from employee insurance programme. 

  • Example: According to NITI Aayog, in India around 400 million individuals have lack of health insurance. 

4.Low focus on preventive health care: 

  • Preventive measures such as disease awareness, screening, and immunisation etc. 

5.Limited use of technology and digital health care facilities: 

  • Compared to developed countries, India is lacking digital penetration  

  • Example: less adoptability to e-Manas, telemedicine portals. 

 Way forward: 

 1.Increase the public health expenditure: 

  • India must increase their public health expenditure in respect of developed countries. 

  • Example: Expanding programmes like Ayushmann Bharat, adopt developed countries health care coverage models etc. 

2.Stregthen the primary health care centres: 

  • Revamping primary health care centres with staffing, equipment, and testing facilities. 

3.Leveraging technology into Health care: 

  • Promote Ayushman Digital mission and Bharat net facilities for better adaptabilities. 

4.Increase Research and development facilities in health care: 

  • Encourage ICMR, AIIMs towards indigenous medicine innovations and research. 

 CONCLUSION: 

  • Universal health coverage is a long-term commitment, not a quick fix insurance model. It has its challenges and limitations. However, by improving inpatient care, preventive care for disease, timely implementation of government initiatives and increasing government spending on public health expenditure India will soon realises the sustainable development goal 3 of universal health coverage.