Perspectives of academia on advancing the agenda of Universal Health Coverage in India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v5i2.28313Keywords:
Universal Health Coverage, Academia, Academic institutions, Perspectives, IndiaAbstract
Universal health coverage (UHC) is currently at the center of discussion to strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes. The design and delivery of UHC requires an active engagement of various stakeholders viz. policy makers, program managers, civil society, private sector, academia and health professional associations. However, limited information is available on engagement of academia in discussions related to UHC. This study attempted to examine the perspectives of academia on advancing the agenda of UHC in India. A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted with 62 stakeholders which included deans and senior faculty from 17 government and 15 private medical institutions across India, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done through free listing of responses, domain evolution and using qualifiers for semi-quantitative expressions. Clarity on concept of UHC and awareness on UHC developments was found low amongst stakeholders. It was strongly believed that not just tertiary care services but primary health care is more critical for UHC to succeed. Besides the responsibility of government, engaging other organizations was underlined. Approximately half of the respondents mentioned that their organization can support the provision of providing promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health services to achieve UHC. Stakeholders also felt that the tax-based and private health insurance can act complementary to each other, and should be promoted to improve health services coverage. Findings suggest that there is a strong need for engagement of academia for marching towards the goal of UHC.
South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.5(2) 2015: 50-56
Downloads
126
76
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).