Invest In Primary Health Care For Universal Health Coverage: MoS Bharati Pawar

Investment in primary health care is the most inclusive, equitable and cost-effective way to achieve Universal Health Coverage, said MoS Health Bharati Pawar.

New Delhi, Oct 31: Investment in primary health care is the most inclusive, equitable, and cost-effective way to achieve Universal Health Coverage, said Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pawar on Tuesday.

Addressing the Ministerial Roundtable Conference at the 76th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for South-East Asia here, Pawar said India's strong health system relies on a "whole of government" and "whole of society" approach.

Delhi Declaration Signed

The Delhi Declaration on strengthening primary healthcare as a key element towards achieving universal health coverage was signed at the meeting. Reaffirming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Antyodaya", the principle of leaving no one behind, Pawar said India's leadership in the G20 has emphasised the importance of strengthening national health systems by putting people at the center of preparedness and preparing them to respond effectively.

India's Strong Health System

She said this would facilitate achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the goal of strengthening primary health care and improving essential health services and health systems to pre-pandemic levels.

Speaking on the impact of India's significant reforms, Bharti said, "More than 1.61 lakh Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) are transforming the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services which are universally free and provided to all age groups from birth to death, through a continuum of care approach."

AB-HWCs Transforming Healthcare Delivery

She said it is leading to improved population coverage, reduced out-of-pocket expenditure, mitigation of risk factors, and decongestion of higher-level facilities, thus improving the quality of care at all levels.

Lauding the policy reforms undertaken for primary healthcare, the minister said, "As one of the many policy reforms, the Community Health Officer (CHO) cadre has been introduced at primary levels. India's ASHA program is the largest community health worker program globally."

ASHA Program Largest Globally

Speaking on the future blueprint, Pawar said, "AB-HWCs are now gearing up to be able to address the existing gaps in specific areas of care i.e. mental health, elderly care, and palliative care."

She added that the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) will aim at creating a comprehensive digital health ecosystem and investments towards standards-based digital health transformation.

ABDM to Create Digital Health Ecosystem

The minister said that India is committed to working with all stakeholders to strengthen primary health care and achieve Universal Health Coverage for all.

India Committed to Strengthening Primary Health Care

The Ministerial Roundtable Conference was attended by health ministers and senior officials from the South-East Asia Region. The conference discussed the challenges and opportunities in strengthening primary health care in the region and adopted the Delhi Declaration on strengthening primary healthcare as a key element towards achieving universal health coverage.

Delhi Declaration Adopted

The Delhi Declaration commits the countries of the South-East Asia Region to strengthening primary health care as the foundation of their health systems and to working together to achieve Universal Health Coverage for all.