Introduction:
Health is an essential component of social justice, as it enables individuals to lead a life of dignity and realize their full potential. Although Article 21 has been judicially interpreted to include the Right to Health, universal access to quality healthcare remains a significant challenge in India.
Body:
Significance of Universal Healthcare for Social Justice
Ensures Equitable Access: Universal healthcare reduces disparities in access to essential health services across socio-economic groups.
Example: Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) provides health insurance to economically vulnerable families.
Protects Vulnerable Sections: Affordable healthcare safeguards the interests of women, children, elderly persons, and marginalized communities.
Example: Janani Suraksha Yojana has improved institutional deliveries among poor women.
Reduces Financial Hardship: Public healthcare minimizes catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure and prevents medical impoverishment.
Example: PM-JAY covers hospitalization expenses up to ₹5 lakh per family annually.
Promotes Human Development: Better health outcomes improve educational attainment, workforce productivity, and overall quality of life.
Example: Mission Indradhanush has strengthened immunization coverage among children.
Advances Constitutional Goals: Universal healthcare promotes equality, dignity, and welfare envisioned under the Constitution.
Example: Articles 21, 38, 39(e), 41, and 47 collectively emphasize the State’s responsibility towards public health.
Supports Inclusive Development: Healthy populations contribute to sustainable economic growth and social cohesion.
Example: National Health Policy, 2017 emphasizes universal health coverage as a key policy objective.
Challenges to Achieving Universal Healthcare
Inadequate Public Health Expenditure: Public spending on healthcare remains below the level required for universal access.
Example: The National Health Policy, 2017 envisages increasing public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP.
Shortage of Healthcare Infrastructure: Rural and remote areas continue to face shortages of hospitals, medical personnel, and diagnostic facilities.
Example: Shortfall of specialists in Community Health Centres (CHCs).
Regional Disparities: Considerable variations exist in healthcare access and outcomes across States.
Example: Differences in IMR and MMR between southern and BIMARU states.
High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: Despite government schemes, medicines and diagnostics continue to impose financial burdens on households.
Example: National Health Accounts indicate that out-of-pocket expenditure remains a major share of total health spending.
Shortage of Skilled Human Resources: India faces an uneven distribution of doctors, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals.
Example: Doctor-population ratios remain lower in several underserved districts.
Poor Preventive and Primary Healthcare: Greater emphasis on curative care than preventive healthcare affects long-term health outcomes.
Example: The establishment of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (formerly Health and Wellness Centres) seeks to strengthen comprehensive primary healthcare.
Conclusion:
Universal access to quality healthcare is indispensable for achieving social justice and realizing the constitutional vision of a welfare state. Strengthening primary healthcare, increasing public investment, reducing regional disparities, and ensuring affordable, equitable, and quality health services will be crucial for building a healthier and more inclusive India.