National Health Policy 2017, Objectives, Vision, Features

The National Health Policy 2017 represents India’s strategic roadmap to improve the health and well-being of its population, aiming to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improve overall healthcare outcomes. By emphasizing preventive and promotive healthcare, equitable access to quality services, and attention to vulnerable populations, the policy is designed to address the evolving health needs of the nation. In this article, we are going to cover National Health Policy 2017, its historical background, vision, objectives and features.

National Health Policy

The National Health Policy 2017 is a forward-looking framework for transforming India’s healthcare system. By emphasizing Universal Health Coverage, preventive health, and equitable access, it seeks to ensure that every citizen can live a healthy and productive life. Successful implementation of NHP 2017 requires sustained commitment from the government, innovative strategies, and active participation from communities, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. With coordinated efforts, India can achieve its vision of a robust, equitable, and sustainable healthcare system that meets the needs of its diverse population.

Read About: Indian Healthcare Sector

National Health Policy Background

Health is fundamental to national development and human progress. Recognizing this, India has periodically formulated national health policies to guide its healthcare system. The National Health Policy 1983 prioritized primary healthcare, rural health infrastructure, and the control of communicable diseases, maternal, and child health. The National Health Policy 2002 focused on improving access to affordable and quality healthcare, encouraging private sector participation, and setting targets for reducing infant mortality and fertility rates.

The National Health Policy 2017, the most comprehensive iteration, aims to meet current and future healthcare challenges by emphasizing preventive and promotive health, equity, and quality care. It aligns with India’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting a holistic approach to health planning.

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National Health Policy 2017 Vision

The vision of NHP 2017 is to attain the highest possible health and well-being for all age groups through preventive and promotive health orientation, along with universal access to quality healthcare services. The policy stresses reducing health inequities, strengthening infrastructure, and ensuring financial protection for all, particularly underserved and vulnerable populations.

National Health Policy Objectives

The NHP 2017 outlines several critical objectives:

1. Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Ensuring affordable, accessible, and equitable healthcare for all citizens.
2. Reduction of Disease Burden: Addressing communicable, non-communicable, and emerging health challenges.
3. Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure: Expanding healthcare facilities, especially in rural and underserved regions.
4. Community Participation: Promoting health literacy and active community engagement in healthcare delivery.
5. Health Financing: Increasing public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025.
6. Human Resource Development: Training healthcare professionals and improving the doctor-patient ratio to meet the growing demand for quality healthcare.

National Health Policy Features

The policy integrates multiple components to create a robust and equitable healthcare system:

• Primary Healthcare: Establishing Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) to deliver comprehensive primary care, including preventive, promotive, and curative services.
• Preventive Healthcare: Emphasizing immunization, early screening, and preventive interventions to reduce the disease burden.
• Public Health Expenditure: Increasing government spending on health to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for citizens, and providing free essential drugs and diagnostics.
• Integration of AYUSH: Promoting Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy as complementary systems to modern medicine.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Focusing on prevention, early detection, and management of NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, while also addressing mental health and palliative care needs.
• Digital Health: Encouraging telemedicine, electronic health records, and e-governance to improve efficiency and accessibility.
• Health Equity: Prioritizing marginalized populations and reducing rural-urban disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
• Health Workforce Development: Implementing skill development programs to address shortages of healthcare workers, particularly in remote areas.

National Health Policy Challenges in Implementation

Despite its comprehensive framework, the implementation of NHP 2017 faces several challenges:

• Low Public Health Expenditure: Government spending remains below the 2% GDP target, restricting infrastructure development and service delivery.
• Human Resource Shortages: There is a significant deficit of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, particularly in rural regions.
• Urban-Rural Disparities: Healthcare infrastructure is concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations underserved.
• High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: Citizens bear a significant portion of healthcare costs, which can lead to financial hardship.
• Fragmented Health Systems: Coordination between public and private healthcare sectors remains limited, affecting service delivery.
• Rising Disease Burden: Non-communicable and emerging infectious diseases are increasing, creating additional pressures on the health system.

Major Government Initiatives Aligned with NHP 2017

Several flagship programs have been launched to operationalize the policy’s objectives:

• Ayushman Bharat: Launched in 2018, it includes the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) for secondary and tertiary care and HWCs for primary care, aiming to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
• National Digital Health Mission (NDHM): Establishes a digital ecosystem with unique health IDs for citizens, facilitating efficient service delivery.
• Jan Aushadhi Scheme: Provides affordable generic medicines through Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras.
• Mission Indradhanush: Enhances immunization coverage for children and pregnant women.
• National Program for Prevention and Control of NCDs: Focuses on awareness, early detection, and treatment of lifestyle diseases.

National Health Policy Achievements

The implementation of NHP 2017 has led to notable outcomes:

• Establishment of over 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centers across the country.
• Increased immunization coverage through Mission Indradhanush.
• Enhanced access to affordable medicines via Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
• Greater adoption of digital health solutions, including electronic health records and telemedicine services.

National Health Policy Way Forward

To realize the full potential of NHP 2017, several strategic measures are necessary:

• Strengthening Infrastructure: Expand healthcare facilities and improve resource allocation, particularly in underserved regions.
• Focus on Preventive Health: Promote awareness campaigns, early screening, and lifestyle interventions to reduce the overall disease burden.
• Human Resource Development: Address workforce shortages through targeted training programs, recruitment, and skill development initiatives.
• Increased Health Financing: Achieve the target of 2.5% GDP for public health expenditure to ensure sustainable healthcare funding.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Leverage private sector expertise to enhance service delivery and improve healthcare efficiency.
• Equitable Healthcare Access: Prioritize marginalized and vulnerable populations to reduce disparities in health outcomes.