International Universal Health Coverage Day 2022-Build the world we want: A healthy future for all

This year’s theme, “Build the world we want: A healthy future for all,” highlights the importance of equity, trust, healthy surroundings, investments, and accountability in order to build strong health systems

The United Nations declared December 12th as International Universal Health Coverage Day in 2017, the day when UN General Assembly passed a resolution with an aim of advancing efforts towards universal healthcare. The objective being accessibility and availability of high quality and affordable healthcare to everyone irrespective of where they belong.

This year’s theme, “Build the world we want: A healthy future for all,” highlights the importance of equity, trust, healthy surroundings, investments, and accountability in order to build strong health systems.

The experts share their views on the significance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC):

Mandeep Singh Kumar, Vice President and General Manager, Intuitive Surgical India said, “India’s healthcare sector has progressed immensely in the last decade. The key contributing factors have been the advancement of medical technology and expansion of health insurance schemes to offer some coverage to nearly 70 per cent of the population. To further support and catalyse this, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) has demarcated 12 contemporary therapies and technologies, including robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), that are now covered by both new and existing health insurance plans. However, we still have some distance to cover when it comes to making these technologies accessible for all. For instance, in the case of robotic-assisted surgery, it can be observed that many health insurance policies have sub-limits, restraining full access to this new-age surgical method from the beneficiaries. One of the best ways to address this gap is by sensitising patients, providers (hospitals), and payers about the benefits of RAS in terms of better clinical outcomes and reduced total cost of therapy.”

Karan Gupta, Co-founder and COO, Ayu Health Hospitals said, “While the Indian healthcare sector has experienced tremendous expansion recently, accessibility to quality healthcare has remained a problem for the vast majority of the population. Many people still choose to delay treatment and preventive checks stricken with the fear of the exorbitant bill that would be generated by the medical facilities. This makes access to high-quality healthcare even more difficult. Subscribing to a medical insurance can solve this problem to a certain extent. However, filing an insurance claim can occasionally be a difficult task. The lengthy processing period for payments is a significant problem that patients deal with in this regard. This happens even after the insurance company has paid them the amount and TPAs try their best to process at the earliest which leads to misunderstanding and tension between patients and hospitals. Patients are clueless and hospitals get disgruntled because of such disparities. As a measure to reduce such fuss, we, at Ayu Health have started our reimbursement financing solution, as a way to lessen inconsistencies in the system by financing the patients (through tie-ups with financiers) eliminating the burden of upfront payment to the hospital at the time of discharge.”

Dr Swapna Misra, Director, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Fortis Hospital, Mohali highlights, “Gynaecological issues such as ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids are on a steep rise in India, especially due to increased changes in lifestyle management. We are seeing a lot of such cases in younger generation as well. Historically, the course of treatment for most of such cases is total hysterectomy which implies that the woman loses the ability to get pregnant. This can particularly be detrimental to the mental health of younger patients who want to retain their fertility. RAS using new-age systems like Da Vinci, via their precision arms and magnified viewing abilities, enables us to treat them without opting for the total removal of uterus, thereby preserving their ability to conceive in the future. However, a pertinent issue that is limiting the number of procedures performed is the inadequacy of knowledge about the benefits of RAS among patients. The insurance policies holding by most people have sub-limits for RAS, which is restraining them from fully accessing it. Hence, it is very important to enhance the awareness about the benefits of RAS among patients and payers to make it accessible to more people.”

Talking about the theme, Kamal Narayan Omer, CEO, IHW Council said, “In keeping with the theme of Universal Health Coverage Day this year “Build the world we want: A healthy future for all” and enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals, UHC includes a full range of essential health services from health promotion and awareness to prevention, and treatment. The very essence of the concept depends on leaving no on behind as non -availability of quality healthcare anywhere is a threat to human health everywhere, as seen during the pandemic. Universal Health Coverage can contribute significantly in lifting people out of the cycle of poverty, deprivation, promote physical and mental health wellbeing of individuals, families and societies and nations. Strong health systems need to be built on inclusiveness and mutual trust among all stakeholders while initiating sustainable action at the global level for a better environment, investment and accountability. With rapid digitalisation and economic progress countries are rapidly revamping and prioritising health structures however the transition should be an enabler of patient – centric, equitable and accessible health coverage for all sans the burden of out-of-pocket expenses that precede quality healthcare. The economic and social repercussions of UHC can go a long way in tackling the issues of human rights, economic development and empowering the population, at large. The attainment of all other Sustainable Development Goals is invariably linked to UHC and the long term and sustainable progress of any nation is hugely dependent on the health and wellbeing of its citizens, the path to which is linked to the realisation of UHC.”