NITI Aayog has initiated a transformative project aimed at enhancing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Chaired by V K Paul, the committee’s objective is to establish AIIMS as a leading institution for medical research and practice. This initiative seeks to improve patient inflow, governance, and financial sustainability while making healthcare more accessible for rare disease patients in India.
Committee Mandate and Objectives
The committee is tasked with a comprehensive review of AIIMS’s existing systems. It will propose reforms with specific timelines for implementation. Key objectives include streamlining patient inflow and developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These KPIs will measure clinical, academic, and research outcomes. The committee also aims to enhance governance and transparency within the institution.
Financial Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency
A focus is on ensuring financial prudence and sustainability at AIIMS. The committee will recommend strategies for self-sufficiency in managing operations. This includes exploring diverse funding sources and optimising resource allocation to maintain high-quality healthcare services.
Universal Health Coverage
NITI Aayog is collaborating with the CSEP Research Foundation to analyse global strategies for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The aim is to gather insights that can be tailored to India’s healthcare context. UHC ensures that all individuals receive quality health services without facing financial hardship.
Indigenous Treatments for Rare Diseases
Recognising the challenges faced by rare disease patients, NITI Aayog is working to enhance the accessibility of indigenous treatments. Efforts include fast-tracking the development of locally manufactured drugs. Already, four drugs have been made available at reduced costs compared to imported alternatives. Additional drugs are in the approval process.
Ayushman Bharat Scheme’s Role
The Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched in 2018, has been very important in reducing financial burdens on families. It has facilitated a shift from selective health service delivery to a comprehensive primary healthcare system. This system integrates secondary and tertiary care, improving overall healthcare accessibility.
Future Directions
The ongoing work by NITI Aayog envisions extensive consultations with government and stakeholders. This collaborative approach aims to identify tailored pathways for improving healthcare delivery in India. The focus remains on enhancing quality, accessibility, and affordability in the healthcare sector.
Questions for UPSC:
- Examine the role of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in enhancing healthcare accessibility in India.
- Discuss the significance of Universal Health Coverage in the context of India’s healthcare reforms.
- Critically discuss the challenges faced in providing affordable treatments for rare diseases in India.
- With suitable examples, analyse the impact of financial sustainability on the operational efficiency of healthcare institutions.
Answer Hints:
1. Examine the role of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in enhancing healthcare accessibility in India.
- Launched in 2018, Ayushman Bharat aims to provide health insurance coverage to economically vulnerable populations.
- It offers coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization.
- The scheme promotes a network of public and private hospitals, increasing access to quality healthcare services.
- It has facilitated the establishment of Health and Wellness Centers for primary healthcare, broadening service reach.
- Overall, Ayushman Bharat has reduced out-of-pocket expenditures for families, improving healthcare accessibility.
2. Discuss the significance of Universal Health Coverage in the context of India’s healthcare reforms.
- Universal Health Coverage (UHC) ensures that all individuals receive necessary health services without financial hardship.
- It promotes equity in healthcare access, crucial for addressing health disparities in a diverse population like India.
- UHC is aligned with India’s goal of transitioning to a comprehensive primary healthcare system.
- It supports the integration of secondary and tertiary care, enhancing the overall healthcare delivery system.
- Adopting UHC can lead to improved health outcomes and economic productivity by ensuring a healthier population.
3. Critically discuss the challenges faced in providing affordable treatments for rare diseases in India.
- High costs of imported drugs for rare diseases limit accessibility for many patients in India.
- Lack of awareness and diagnosis for rare diseases often delays treatment, complicating patient outcomes.
- Regulatory hurdles can slow the approval process for indigenous treatments, impacting availability.
- Insufficient research and development investment in rare diseases results in limited treatment options.
- Efforts to fast-track indigenously manufactured drugs are ongoing but face challenges in scaling production and distribution.
4. With suitable examples, analyse the impact of financial sustainability on the operational efficiency of healthcare institutions.
- Financial sustainability allows healthcare institutions to maintain quality services without compromising patient care.
- For example, AIIMS’s focus on self-sufficiency ensures it can invest in advanced medical technologies and staff training.
- Hospitals with diverse funding sources can better manage operational costs, leading to improved service delivery.
- Financially stable institutions can implement preventive health programs, reducing long-term healthcare costs.
- Conversely, institutions facing financial strain may cut corners, leading to decreased quality of care and patient dissatisfaction.
