Strongly recommending a re-configuration of the entire health system where the government will have a major role to play, a high level expert group on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has proposed making health care an entitlement to every citizen.

The group suggested that health care be offered as a National Health Package (NHP) covering all common conditions and high-impact health care requirements including in-patient and out-patient care free of cost.

Describing general taxation as the most viable option for mobilising resources to achieve the target of increasing public spending on health and creating mechanisms for private protection, it favoured a surcharge on salaries or taxable income to pay for the UHC and offer cashless health care to all sections.

According to the panel, the health care services would be made available through the public sector and contracted-in private facilities (including the non-government organisations and non-profit groups). These service providers would not be allowed to accept any additional payments from individuals or through privately purchased insurance policies for non-NHP services. Private providers opting for inclusion in the universal health coverage system would be reimbursed at standard rates as per levels of services offered to the population, and their activities appropriately regulated and monitored.......Read More

Source: The Hindu