India Needs Universal Healthcare Beyond Insurance

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is celebrated on December 12 to highlight the importance of affordable healthcare.

This year's theme was about the high costs of healthcare, which many people find difficult to afford.

Universal healthcare is not just about insurance but also about ensuring everyone has access to good primary healthcare, which includes prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the need for financial reforms to make healthcare more affordable.

In many countries, including India, healthcare insurance schemes focus on covering hospital costs, but people still have to pay a lot out of their own pockets.

Countries like China and South Korea have near-universal insurance coverage, but they also invest heavily in primary and secondary care to keep costs down.

India has a long history of committing to universal healthcare, but it needs to invest more in primary healthcare to make sure everyone gets the care they need.