Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Context and Purpose of the Convention
- The National Convention on Health Rights (Dec 11–12, 2025) is scheduled in New Delhi.
- It is timed between Human Rights Day and Universal Health Coverage Day, reinforcing its significance.
- Around 400 health professionals and community leaders will discuss major health challenges and the agenda on right to health.
- It is organised by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), a network across 20+ States, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 crisis.
Concerns Over Privatisation
- A major issue is the growing privatisation of public health services across India.
- Public–private partnerships increasingly transfer medical colleges and health facilities to private entities.
- This weakens already fragile public systems and increases unaffordable health-care costs for millions.
- Movements from several States will share experiences critiquing the impacts of privatisation.
Weak Regulation of Private Sector
- Commercial private health care has rapidly grown due to investment surges and pro-corporate policies.
- Implementation of the Clinical Establishments Act (2010) remains minimal.
- Patients face overcharging, unnecessary procedures, opaque pricing, and violations of patient rights.
- The convention will demand rate standardisation, transparent pricing and effective grievance systems.
Public Financing Gaps
- India allocates only 2% of the Union Budget to health; per capita spending is just $25.
- Out-of-pocket payments remain high despite heavy attention to insurance schemes.
- Participants will explore alternative financing promoting higher public spending and equitable access.
Justice for Health Workers
- COVID-19 demonstrated the critical role of frontline workers, yet many face low wages and insecure work.
- The convention will advocate better conditions, social security and resilient health systems.
Access to Medicines
- Medicines form up to half of household medical expenditure.
- Over 80% of medicines fall outside price control, enabling irrational drug combinations and unethical marketing.
- Discussions will address regulatory gaps, GST removal, and expanding public-sector drug production.
Strengthening Public Health Systems
- Over 80 crore people rely on public health provisioning, underscoring its importance.
- The convention will promote community-led models, decentralised planning and revitalised services.
- It frames health care as a fundamental right anchored in responsive public systems.
Tackling Discrimination and Social Determinants
- Deep social hierarchies still shape access to health care.
- A gender and social justice session will highlight experiences of Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, LGBTQ+ persons and persons with disabilities.
- Another session links health with food security, pollution and climate change, advocating intersectoral solutions.
Parliamentary Engagement and JSA Legacy
- The event coincides with the winter session of Parliament for direct dialogue with MPs.
- 2025 marks 25 years of JSA, which has worked with grassroots organisations to advance pro-people health policies.
The convention aims to craft future strategies asserting health care for people, not profits.