New Delhi: The Association of Healthcare Providers (AHPI) has called for regulatory reforms and structured public–private engagement frameworks to strengthen the private sector’s contribution to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), noting that private providers already account for over 55 per cent of hospitalisations and nearly two-thirds of treated ailments in the country.
The recommendations were made during a high-level round table on “Regulatory Reforms Enabling Private Sector in Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”, organised by AHPI in association with Trehan Group and Double Helical Magazine in Gurugram.
Citing data from the National Health Accounts 2021–22, participants highlighted that private general hospitals account for 27 per cent of current health expenditure, compared to 18 per cent by government general hospitals, while pharmacies contribute another 19 per cent. Findings from the NSS 75th Round (2017–18) indicate that 55.3 per cent of hospital admissions and 65.8 per cent of treated ailments are handled by private facilities. However, out-of-pocket expenditure remains high at 39.4 per cent, underscoring gaps in financial risk protection.
Dr Girdhar Gyani, Director General, AHPI, said achieving UHC at scale requires moving from fragmented engagement to structured partnerships with private providers. He stressed that clear regulations, standardised quality benchmarks and timely reimbursements are essential to ensure equitable access while maintaining operational sustainability.
The session was chaired by Dr A K Agarwal, former President of the Delhi Medical Council, and Dr Suneela Garg, Director Professor (HAG), Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College and associated hospitals, New Delhi. It was moderated by Dr Vijay Agrawal, President, Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO).
Dr Madan Gopal, Advisor and Head, National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), emphasised the need for strategic purchasing, contracting and payment reforms to effectively leverage private sector capacity under publicly funded schemes. Without aligned incentives, he said, existing infrastructure risks being underutilised while households continue to bear high out-of-pocket costs.
Dr Narin Sehgal, Secretary, AHPI Delhi Chapter, called for rationalised and harmonised regulatory frameworks to improve ease of doing business while safeguarding quality and patient safety. He noted that complex compliance requirements and inconsistent implementation across states often deter private investment, especially in underserved areas.
Highlighting operational challenges, Cdr Navneet Bali, Executive Director and CEO, Clearmedi Healthcare, pointed to financial pressures arising from price controls, rigid package rates and delays in reimbursements, particularly for tertiary and specialised care providers. Prolonged uncertainty, he cautioned, could affect investments in advanced infrastructure and technology.
Dr Amit Bhushan Sharma, Director and Unit Head – Cardiology, Paras Health, Gurugram, underscored the rising incidence of cardiac events among younger populations and stressed the need for early diagnosis, preventive care and timely intervention through integrated public–private healthcare delivery models.
Participants agreed that UHC should be treated as a national economic and social priority rather than framed as a public-versus-private debate. Given current utilisation trends, they said public purchasing mechanisms must strategically engage private providers to expand coverage at scale while ensuring quality, affordability and sustainability.
Harsh Trehan, CMD, Trehan Group, said predictable regulation, transparent quality standards and time-bound payments are crucial for sustained private sector participation in government-backed health programmes. The organisers said key recommendations from the round table would be consolidated into a policy submission to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to strengthen alignment between financing and service delivery systems and accelerate progress towards equitable and sustainable UHC.
