Expert group on universal health coverage set up

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Expert group on universal health coverage set up

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Recognising the importance of defining a comprehensive strategy for

universal health coverage, the Planning Commission has set up a high level

expert group to develop a blueprint and investment plan for meeting the human

resource requirements to achieve ‘health for all' by 2020.

The 15-member group on universal health coverage, chaired by K. Srinath Reddy,

president of the Public Health Foundation of India, is mandated to rework the

physical and financial norms needed to ensure quality, universal reach and

access to healthcare services, particularly in underserved areas and to indicate

the role of private and public service providers.

“The expert group will also explore the role of a health insurance system that

offers universal access to health services with high subsidy for the poor and a

scope for building up additional levels of protection on a payment basis,â€

Syeda Hamid, a member of the Planning Commission, told The Hindu.

The expert group will suggest critical management reforms in order to improve

efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of the health delivery system,

among other things.

The other members of the expert group are: Abhay Bhang (Society for Education,

Action and Research in Community Health), A.K. Shiva Kumar (member, National

Advisory Council), Amarjeet Sinha (senior IAS officer), Anu Garg (Principal

Secretary-cum-Commissioner (Health and Family Welfare department, Orissa), Gita

Sen (Centre for Public Policy, IIM Bangalore), G.N. Rao (Chair of Eye Health,

L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad), Jashodhara Dasgupta (SAHYOG, Lucknow),

Leila Caleb Varkey (Public Health researcher), Govinda Rao (Director, National

Institute of Public Finance and Policy), Mirai Chatterjee (Director, Social

Security, SEWA), Nachiket Mor (Sughavazhu Healthcare), Vinod (AIIMS),

Yogesh Jain (Jan Swasthya Sahyog, Bilaspur), a representative of the Ministry of

Health and Family Welfare, and N.K. Sethi (Advisor (Health), Planning

Commission).

http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/20/stories/2010102062681100.htm