A Critical Analysis of National Health Policy 2017 with Specific Reference to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Yojana and the Path to Universal Health Coverage

Abstract

The key to human development is through the attainment of economic and social development. This can only be achieved by improving general health of the population. This has been aimed to be enforced through the ‘Universal Health Care’ vision in the recent decades. It is towards this aim that India’s first National Health Policy 2017 (NHP) was formulated by the BJP headed Modi government. Ayushman Bharat is a part of National Health Policy 2017 with an aim to meet the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as well as to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Through this paper, the researcher makes a critical analysis of the policy in general and the effect it has on its targeted audience in the last 3 years after its implementation. In this regard, the researcher finds various problems in the practical implementation of the policy wherein suggestions are provided for effective implementation to achieve the desire health outcomes.