MAINS 2015
GS2
12.5 marks
Public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think the private sector could help bridge the gap? What other viable alternatives would you suggest?
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Assess whether the private sector can fill public health system gaps for UHC and suggest other options.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Public limits: low spending, staff and infrastructure shortage, weak primary care, high out-of-pocket costs≈35 words
- 2Private role: majority of outpatient care, PPPs, insurance (PM-JAY), diagnostics; risks - cost, urban bias, over-treatment, weak regulation≈35 words
- 3Alternatives: strengthen primary care (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs), free drugs (Tamil Nadu model), community health workers, strategic purchasing, Clinical Establishments Act enforcement≈35 words
- 4Kerala and Thailand show public-led UHC can work≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Public system gapsPrivate sector potential and risksAlternativesConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only praising private sector
- Missing the 'other alternatives' part
Draw this
- UHC cube (population, services, cost covered) with public and private contributions
Value addition
- DataOut-of-pocket health expenditure fell from 62.6% (2014-15) to 39.4% (2021-22) of total health spending.National Health Accounts estimates
- CommitteeThe High Level Expert Group on UHC (K. Srinath Reddy, 2011) recommended raising public health spending to at least 2.5% of GDP.Planning Commission HLEG, 2011
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 17 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 41 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 35 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.