Universal Free Health Coverage

Establishing a universal health coverage system entails assured access to a defined essential range of medicines and treatment at an affordable price to each individual.  In this direction, the 12^th Five Year Plan envisages substantial expansion and strengthening of the public health systems both in rural and urban areas, with robust provision of primary health care. 

          Several of the ongoing initiatives like Reproductive and Child Health, Control of Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases, have the features of universal coverage through public health facilities for the target population. These initiatives  encompass the following: 

Ø     Free Maternal Health Services, which include antenatal check up including free investigations and Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, post-natal care and safe abortion services. Recent initiatives such as JananiShishuSurakshaKaryakaram (JSSK) guarantees free and no expense delivery including c-section in public health facilities, entitlements include free to and fro transport, free diet, drugs, consumables, diagnostics and blood. Similar guarantees are there for sick neonates also.

Ø     Free Child Health Services which include home based new born care, facility based new born care, Nutritional rehabilitation, Diarrhea management including free Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and Zinc, pneumonia management including antibiotics. New Initiatives like RashtriyaBalSwasthyaKaryakram provides child health screening and early intervention services

Ø     Universal Immunization Programme which guarantees free vaccination of children against 7 diseases, free vaccination (TT) to pregnant women.

Ø     Adolescent Health Services which include adolescent friendly services through Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) Clinics, WIFS (Weekly Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation with deworming).

Ø     Family planning activities, which include free services including providing information, supply of contraceptives and other family planning interventions.

Ø     Control of Communicable diseases, which include free investigation and treatment for Malaria, Kala-azar, filarial, Dengue, Japanese Encephalitis and Chikungunya, Tuberculosis and Leprosy etc.

Ø     Control of Non-communicable diseases, which include free cataract surgery for blindness control, free cornea transplant, glaucoma/diabetic retinopathy, free spectacles to children.

For these schemes, guidelines have been developed and shared with the States and the Schemes are operational.

The funds allocated under the National Health Mission and Family Welfare for the 12^th Five Year Plan is Rs. 193405.71 crore, which inter-alia include the following :

S/No.	Major Schemes	Allocation (Rs. in crore)
1.	NRHM-RCH Flexible  Pool	Rs. 115285.69
2.	NUHM- Flexible Pool	Rs.   15143.00
3.	Flexible Pool for Communicable Diseases	Rs.   10551.87
4.	Flexible Pool for Non-Communicable Diseases, Injury & Trauma	Rs.   12325.71

The steps towards achieving UHC, which is an incremental process is linked to the availability of adequate financial resources.

This information was given by Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Shri Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.