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NITI Aayog organizes Dialogue on Health System for New India

30.11.2018

In an initiative to strengthen health system, the NITI Aayog has organized a day-long dialogue titled as “Health System for A New India: Building Blocks”, with national and international academia, practitioners, Indian policymakers and other stakeholders of the healthcare ecosystem. The dialogue focused on strengthening and further building on the existing blocks for Health Systems for a New India and prioritized four critical health systems issues for discussion and debate. These included expanding resources for health through pooling existing funds; expanding the role of the government as a strategic purchaser from both public and private providers to improve quality of healthcare services; provision of equitable and integrated services; and leveraging technology as an enabler and aggregator.

Strengthening governance, policy and regulatory frameworks and institutions are essential to ensure systemic transformation of the health sector for a new India. There was broad consensus that the development of a health system for India can lead to the growth of a healthy and globally competitive healthcare insurance and health service provision and improved consumer experience and citizens trust in the healthcare system. Dr Paul emphasized that trust in the system will be key for building an efficient health system for a new India, which is inclusive, integrative and indigenous. The inaugural session was chaired by Dr Vinod Paul, Member, NITI Aayog and included the participation of Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, MsPreeti Sudan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Shri Alok Kumar, Adviser, NITI Aayog. Dr. SuwitWibulpolprasert, Global Health Advisor, Government of Thailand gave the keynote address detailing Thailand’s four-decade journey towards Universal Health Coverage.

As per the analysis, it is estimated that, if the required decisions in terms of creating a functioning Health system are taken, then it shall reduce adult deaths by up to 16% by 2030, thereby increasing economic growth up to 32%. Further, it is also estimated that breaking programmatic silos and integration of various schemes within a systems approach will lead to reduction in avoidable out-of-pocket expenses to about 45%of total health spending by 2030, preventing at least 1.5 million additional households to go below the poverty line due to illness and unaffordable health care. Investments in strengthening and building on the current mixed health system will reap social and economic dividend for India.

Tags : Health system Strengthening Dialogue

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