Abstract

In this article the national health policies of India are critically analysed, with an emphasis on their inadequacies and areas of evolution. The conversation, which is based on the principles of the Indian Constitution, highlights the connection between health and poverty and the state's obligation to raise public health standards. This article examines three significant national health policies: the National Health Policy (NHP) of 1983, which prioritised primary healthcare but fell short in addressing the needs of rural communities; the NHP of 2002, which attempted to improve access and equity but struggled with low public spending; and the NHP of 2017, which attempted to adjust to shifting health care priorities in the face of an increase in non-communicable diseases and skyrocketing health care costs. Significant policy frameworks notwithstanding, systemic problems such as insufficient funding, ineffective community engagement, and dependence on private health care continue to exist. The Supreme Court's declaration of a legal right to health is emphasised in this piece, which also advocates for greater government accountability and funding for public health. In the end, it makes the case that improving India's general health situation and fulfilling the right to health require tackling the systemic issues with health care delivery. The appeal for cooperation between the federal and state governments to guarantee the success of health policy and the realisation of health as a fundamental right is made in the article's conclusion.

Keywords