Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) has unveiled the Seminal Exposition
New Delhi: The ultimate level of healthcare is a sine qua non for a developed country. Efforts are afoot to create a blueprint for kind of healthcare ecosystem that will be commensurate with Vikshit Bharat in the making. The flagship report– Road to Vikshit Bharat From Achieving Universal Health Coverage to Attaining Universal Health Assurance– of Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) unveiled in India International Centre on December 11 is a veritable vision of level of healthcare Viksit in Bharat @ 2047. The report consists of inputs from healthcare policy luminaries of healthcare in India.
The report, developed by the Centre for Universal Health Assurance (CUHA) at the Indian School of Public Policy, was led by Dr. Anuradha Jain through a collaborative, multidisciplinary research effort, with strategic guidance and oversight from Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, Chair, CUHA. It marks a timely intervention in India’s public health policy discourse as the country moves from expanding healthcare access to institutionalizing quality, continuity and accountability of care, aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat.
The report launch was followed by a high-level panel discussion featuring senior policymakers and health system experts, who deliberated on the institutional, regulatory, and governance reforms required to operationalize Universal Health Assurance in India.
A central theme of the discussion was the evolving concept of ‘Swasthya ka Adhikar’ (Right to Health), which moves beyond episodic service delivery towards guaranteeing quality, continuity, patient safety and accountability across the full continuum of care, encompassing both public and private providers. The occasion of unveiling was graced by distinguished Dignitaries including Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, Founder, Lok Satta Movement (chair), K. Sanjay Murthy, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Chief Guest), Dr Rajendra Pratap Gupta, chair, Academy of Digital Health Sciences and former advisor to the Union Health Minister (Guest of Honour). Expert panel consisted of Maj. Gen. Prof. Atul Kotwal, Former Executive Director, National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), Dr. J. N. Srivastava, Advisor – Quality and Patient Safety (QPS), National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), Ms. Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India.
Dr. K. Srinath Reddy highlighted the salient features of the report. He mentioned that In the current health expenditure- 54% of the burden is borne by households. If that isn’t taken care of, the overall financial burden is not reduced. Geographical and financial barriers lead to forgone care- which leads to the false notion that OOPE is reduced. Under service coverage, Dr. Reddy questioned if our health systems are sufficiently equipped to deliver services. When speaking about the role of ASHA workers in delivering primary health care, he quipped that “the ASHAs are the goddess of all hopes, and the beast of all burdens”. He said that an integrated healthcare system is the need of the hour. Efficient, equitable, empathetic and economically affordable services are required. He ended his address by reiterating CUHA’s commitment to engaging key constituencies and bottom-up approach.
Dr. Reddy also emphasized that while global UHC progress is measured through service coverage and financial protection, India must first strengthen the foundational capacity of its health system. He highlighted gaps such as inadequate frontline workforce numbers, weak referral linkages, and the absence of an integrated healthcare system. Dr. Reddy stressed the need to empower ASHA workers, revitalize neglected urban primary health centres, and promote people-partnered public health that creates economic opportunities for women and youth. He underscored that achieving UHC will require greater district-level decision-making power and community-driven health system strengthening.
Dr. Narayan started by discussing the need to improve education and healthcare, but focus more on healthcare. It is not about moral compassion, but an economic necessity. The problem is not about expenditure, it is about outcomes. We spend very little on healthcare. We get excellent returns when we do spend. (We get excellent returns) from public healthcare. Despite the problems of private healthcare, we have brought down the cost of high-end healthcare. He quoted that he is a great optimist in the good quality of healthcare. Health has become a bit of an issue politically, the political system has now recognised healthcare.
Prof. Atul Kotwal emphasized that achieving Universal Health Coverage requires a strong continuum of care, outcome-oriented reforms, and a more responsive public health system. He highlighted the need to measure opportunity costs within the system, strengthen referral accountability through patient-tracking mechanisms, and shift PMJAY incentives from service volume to health outcomes. Ms. Poonam Muttreja emphasized that India’s progress toward UHC must be rooted in transforming social norms, strengthening women’s trust in public systems, and applying a strong gender lens in planning.
Shri K. Sanjay Murthy emphasized that effective healthcare delivery in India must account for its deep cultural diversity, not just logistical readiness. Drawing from his experience in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, he noted that community beliefs and local practices often shape the success of health interventions. He underscored the persistent resource gaps in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, calling attention to the urgent need for strengthened systems to ensure equitable access.
