A pro-human message for Indian graduands

A session on universal health coverage for India held at OP Jindal University (JGU) explored a recent Lancet Commission on a citizen-centred health system for the country, which was co-chaired by Tarun Khanna of Harvard Business School.

Drawing on extensive new and existing research, the report’s authors emphasise the urgent need to identify several health system reforms needed to advance universal health care. Speaking to this, Worldwide Universities Network Executive Director Dawn Freshwater talked about the importance of public engagement in designing future health care systems, especially for universal health coverage.

Professor Freshwater, a public health expert, said trust must be established with communities by engaging genuinely, providing feedback, and using public insights to inform policy.  “Otherwise people are cynical.”

She cautioned against being overly optimistic about crafting a fully integrated system. “Integration is a continuous process rather than a one-off project.”  Her final word was a call to invest in public health research, which, post-COVID, is not a more fully understood discipline.

The session rounded out a celebration at OP Jindal Global University’s 15th Convocation.