A panel has been formed in collaboration with the Lancet with the goal of creating a framework for comprehensive health coverage in India and quality and affordable healthcare for every citizen. The Lancet Citizens Commission will be headed by four eminent personalities from the health and business sectors. The panel has been formed under the aegis of 'Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute' and Harvard University.
These are four eminent personalities from the health and industry ... Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairman of Biocon Limited, Professor Gagandeep Kang of Christian Medical College, Vellore, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and co-founder of the Indian NGO organization. Founder Vikram Patel and George Pavlo Leman Professor Tarun Khanna at Harvard Business School.
These veterans said that the panel would set out a framework for ensuring comprehensive health coverage and quality and affordable healthcare for every Indian citizen. On the formation of the Commission, World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said that the states of India are innovating and finding better ways, so we can get the best system from within the country.
He said the health indicators of some states are very good compared to other states. There is much to learn within the country. On some important issues, Swaminathan said that one of the good things is the compilation of quality data because without them you will not know what are the criteria and where there are deficiencies.
Swaminathan said, "The first thing to do is to see where there are deficiencies in the indicators". He also said that a comprehensive registration system is also needed. He suggested that the cause of death is a good way to understand the broader impact of any disease and as such the system is needed for urban areas and rural areas.
On the Commission's approach, Majumdar-Shaw says that this is the first of its kind advisory and a participatory move aimed at bringing socio-economic equality with the help of comprehensive health facilities. Kang explained how this new panel differs from earlier efforts.