No reflection on universal health coverage: Experts

The Budget is a real dampener not just for public health but also for families across India,said Dr Anita Kar,Director of School of Health Sciences,University of Pune (UoP). Kar was among the health experts in Pune who have been actively involved in making presentations to the high-level expert group appointed by the Planning Commission on universal health coverage. Sorely disappointed that their dream has just been thrown out of the window,Kar said there is absolutely no reflection on universal health coverage in the budget. The budget is a major disappointment which has only false promises,said Dr Abhay Shukla,another experts who had made several presentations to the expert group that was preparing a blueprint for reaching the goal of universal health coverage.

In several sessions,the expert group had talked to many stakeholders and recommended universal health coverage. At the School of Health Sciences,a public health community group was set up whereas 223 people from different NGOs were part of the initiative.

Everybody should be given free healthcare,the expert group members said. “The initiative was not even mentioned in the budget,” Shukla said.