By Sapna Desai, Chief Marketing Officer, ManipalCigna Health Insurance
For many years, achieving a world where everyone, regardless of gender, class, or geographic differences, can access quality healthcare without facing financial difficulties has been a dream. The United Nations has designated December 12 as Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day to underscore the fundamental principle that quality healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. It serves as a platform to raise awareness about building a focused and equality-driven healthcare system that works for all members of society and strives to make good health for all a reality.
As mentioned earlier, the broad aim of observing UHC Day is to promote health equity, ensuring individuals, irrespective of their socioeconomic status and geographic location, can access quality healthcare services. It also emphasizes the need for financial protection schemes to shield individuals and families from financial damage caused by sudden out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Long-term investments in universal healthcare help societies build healthier populations, improving productivity and driving economic growth. Policymakers recognize that inclusive healthcare is essential for achieving sustainable development goals.
Making a Move
To achieve the goals of universal healthcare, many countries and organizations are working to make healthcare a fundamental right. Initiatives like the World Health Organization’s (WHO) UHC 2030 Partnership play a significant role in starting conversations and setting actionable goals. This initiative advocates integrating universal healthcare practices into public policy with a focus on health equity and accessibility.
In India, the Ayushman Bharat program launched by the Government of India aims to provide 55 crore individuals with financial protection and healthcare access. This program’s focus on subsidized health insurance for low-income families highlights the importance of such schemes in achieving universal healthcare.
Meeting the Challenges
A significant challenge in achieving universal health coverage is addressing the needs of the “missing middle.” This term refers to individuals and families who are neither poor enough to qualify for state-subsidized healthcare and health insurance programs nor are affluent enough to afford their care. These individuals often face a coverage gap, leaving them vulnerable to catastrophic health expenses. Bridging this gap requires product innovation such as affordable health insurance schemes tailored to their needs.
The cost of health services is another significant barrier, often driving many sections of society into poverty due to the absence of health insuranceand a financial safety net. Vulnerable groups frequently find themselves outside the insurance ambit, exacerbating inequities.
Addressing these challenges requires innovative and collaborative solutions:
- Health Insurance: Health insurance is a critical component of universal health coverage. Affordable and inclusive health insurance models provide a financial safety net, preventing families from falling into poverty due to healthcare costs. Expanding health insurance coverage ensures that everyone, especially vulnerable groups, has access to essential services.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Governments, NGOs, and private sector entities must collaborate to pool resources and expertise. Strong public-private partnerships can help scale healthcare delivery and improve reach, especially in underserved areas. For example, telemedicine and e-commerce platforms for medicine delivery can bridge gaps in rural diagnostics and treatments.
- Successful Models: Programs like Ayushman Bharat can serve as models to replicate. Subsidized insurance premiums for low-income families ensure that vulnerable populations can access essential medical services without economic distress.
- Community Involvement: Local health workers, such as those in India’s Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) program, play a pivotal role in delivering preventive and primary care. Empowering such workers through training and resources is key to community health initiatives.
- Technology: Investments in telemedicine, AI-powered diagnostics, and mobile health solutions can make quality healthcare accessible and affordable for remote communities.
Universal health coverage is not just a distant aspiration—it is achievable through a combination of sound policy and community initiatives. It helps reduce inequality, provides financial protection, and ensures access to essential services for all. As we commemorate Universal Health Coverage Day, we must remain steadfast in our goal of making healthcare a fundamental right for everyone.
Health insurance will play a pivotal role in this journey. By offering a financial safety net, it can catalyze broader systemic change, enabling inclusive policies and fostering innovative, tech-focused solutions. Together, these efforts can help us achieve the vision of universal healthcare and make it a shared reality for all.