The Members of the Commission complement the Planning Commission and the Expert Group on their initiative to bring the concerns of Universal Health Coverage in focus. The
Members of the Commission generally appreciated the content and the thrust of the Report. While taking-up this task, the Commission had the opportunity of re-looking at the Report of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, headed by the then Finance Minister and the Health Minister, with the approval of the Prime Minister. It seems strange that this comprehensive report, which was put together with so much of rigour by the Members of the Macroeconomics Commission, concerned Ministers as well as Who’s Who of the Health Care in India, is yet to get due attention from the Ministry as well as the Planning Commission. At this point of time, when the nation is seriously evolving the National Agenda to address health challenges adequately, the Report of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health is an extremely valuable document.
The High Level Expert Group, set up by the Planning Commission has laid out a road map to provide access to affordable, accountable, and appropriate health services for all citizens in a meaningful time frame. It proposes that the government — both centre and the states — should increase public spending on health from the current 1.2% of the GDP to 2.5% by
the end of the 12th Plan, and to 3.5% of GDP by 2022. Also primary healthcare, including health promotion targeted at preventable risk factors, should account for 70% of all government healthcare expenditure. Instead of user fees on the public health services, general taxation should be the primary source of funding which can be complemented with additional deductions from salaried people and tax payers.