Public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that the private sector could help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives would you suggest? (UPSC 2015)

India’s public health system alone cannot ensure universal health coverage due to low spending, unequal workforce distribution and high out-of-pocket costs.

• Private sector role: It can expand capacity in diagnostics, secondary and tertiary care, telemedicine and specialist services, especially through well-regulated PPPs and empanelment under insurance schemes in underserved areas.
• Limits: Private care is often urban, costly and profit-driven; without strong regulation it can increase inequity, over-treatment and catastrophic expenditure.
• Other alternatives: Raise public health spending to 2.5% of GDP, strengthen Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and primary care, provide free essential drugs/diagnostics, expand telehealth, and use task-sharing with nurses, mid-level providers and AYUSH workers.

A mixed model is best: the State must remain the main financer and guarantor of equity, while the private sector should serve as a tightly regulated partner.