Context:
- A National Convention on Health Rights is being held in New Delhi (December 11–12, 2025).
- The convention seeks to reassert health as a fundamental human right, addressing concerns around privatization, inequity, and inadequate public spending.
- Organized by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), it aligns with GS 2 (Social Justice & Governance), GS 3 (Economy), and Ethics.
Key Highlights:
About the Convention
- Participation of around 400 health professionals, activists, and community leaders.
- Timed with the Winter Session of Parliament to enable dialogue with Members of Parliament on health policy reforms.
- Marks 25 years of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, active across 20 states advocating pro-people health policies.
Privatization and Public Health Concerns
- Expansion of public-private partnerships (PPPs) is leading to privatization of medical colleges and health facilities.
- Raises concerns over erosion of public health capacity and unequal access.
Regulation of Private Healthcare
- Rapid growth of commercial private healthcare without adequate regulation.
- Issues include overcharging, unethical practices, and violation of patient rights.
Public Health Financing and Workforce Issues
- Public health spending remains low: around 2% of the Union Budget and nearly $25 per capita annually.
- COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities of frontline health workers — low wages, insecure employment, and poor working conditions.
Access to Medicines and Equity
- Medicines account for a major share of out-of-pocket expenditure; over 80% are outside price control.
- Focus on eliminating discrimination in healthcare access affecting Dalits, Adivasis, LGBTQ+ persons, and other marginalized groups.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Inadequate realization of the Right to Health due to privatization and low public investment.
- Causes:
- Weak public health infrastructure
- Poor regulation of private sector
- High out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines
- Key Concepts:
- Right to Health – highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
- Universal Health Coverage (UHC) – access without financial hardship.
- Government Initiatives:
- Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) – financial protection.
- National Health Mission (NHM) – strengthening public health systems.
- Challenges:
- Rising privatization, inequity, workforce exploitation.
- Impact:
- Nearly 80 crore people depend on public provisioning, making public systems critical.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Data:
- Public health allocation ~2% of Union Budget.
- Medicines largely outside price control mechanisms.
- Static & Conceptual Linkages:
- Article 21 – Right to Life interpreted to include health.
- Directive Principles – duty of the State to improve public health.
- Critical Analysis:
- Excessive reliance on PPPs risks commodification of healthcare.
- Weak regulation undermines ethical medical practice and patient rights.
- Ethical Dimensions:
- Equity, justice, dignity, and accountability in healthcare delivery.
- Way Forward:
- Increase public health expenditure towards global benchmarks.
- Strengthen public health infrastructure and workforce protection.
- Enforce price control on essential medicines.
- Robust regulation of private healthcare.
- Adopt a rights-based, universal healthcare framework.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS 2: Social Justice, Health, Governance
- GS 3: Public Expenditure, Human Resource Development
- GS 4: Ethics – Equity, Justice, Human Dignity