Need for Comprehensive Health Coverage to all - Prof. Srinath Reddy at The Eighth Foundation Day Lecture of ICFAI

6^th March 2018, Hyderabad: ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE) Deemed University organized the Eighth Foundation Day Lecture on the topic “Health and Development: Can India Bridge the Disconnect”, at its campus in Hyderabad. Prof K. Srinath Reddy, presently President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Delhi was the Chief Guest. The event was presided over by Dr. C Rangarajan, the Chancellor, IFHE, who is the former RBI Governor and former Governor of undivided Andhra Pradesh. The event began by paying homage to Late N J Yasaswy, the Founder of the ICFAI Group.

Delivering the lecture, Prof. K Srinath Reddy, called for a comprehensive approach to Universal Health Coverage. He highlighted the importance of healthcare in the unfolding growth story of India. However, he pointed out that India lags behind many other developing nations in terms of life expectancy even though considerable progress has been achieved in the certain areas of healthcare like polio eradication. He adduced statistical evidence to show that incidence of non-communicable diseases is on the rise in urban India. He made a case for bringing in reforms in the healthcare sector for protecting the economic benefits of the demographic dividend India is currently enjoying. 

According to Prof. Srinath Reddy, “Universal health coverage would be achieved when every person has access to health at affordable rates. There is an urgent need to work out a national level policy which is efficient and implementable. Impoverishment caused due to poor health has remained unchanged over the ten years”, said, Dr. Srinath Reddy. “The percentage of Indian households that fell below the poverty line due to OOP spending on health expenditures has remained unchanged at approximately 7 percent of the population”, he added.

Prof. Srinath Reddy compared the nation’s health care systems with other developing countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. He pointed out the contradictions between the high economic growth rate of India and lack of access to reliable health care services in a nation like India. Answering questions from the gathering he reiterated that even mental health should be given its due importance in health care policy. He also highlighted promotion of trained technology-enabled non-physician medical staff in rural areas as a solution for problems of health care delivery systems.

Delivering the concluding remarks, Dr. C Rangarajan emphasized the importance of growth along with development. He remarked that growth was essential in releasing resources for social welfare initiatives by governments.

Welcoming the audience initially, Prof. J Mahender Reddy, the Vice Chancellor, IFHE highlighted the importance of healthcare delivery systems in a developing economy. He pointed out at the various new initiatives being undertaken by the Government of India in providing Universal health coverage.

The event was well attended by students and faculty of the ICFAI Business School, ICFAI Law School, and ICFAI Tech School.

IFHE: The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE) is a Deemed to be University declared under section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. The University is accredited by NAAC with ‘A’ Grade with a score of 3.43 out of 4. Four thousand two hundred students are pursuing various programs in the Faculty of Management (ICFAI Business School), Faculty of Science & Technology (ICFAI Tech School), and Faculty of Law (ICFAI Law School). The University campus based at Hyderabad is a 92 acres lush green campus with a built-up area of over 16 lakh sq.ft. The campus is fully residential, Wi-Fi enabled and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

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