As the world’s largest democracy, India has long upheld the principle of ‘Health for All’ under the World Health Organization’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework, which underscores the significance of primary health care (PHC) while striving to curtail out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE). India’s evolving health policies have significantly influenced budgetary allocations and shaped the landscape of healthcare service delivery.
The launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) marked a determined effort to mitigate OOPE; however, it has inadvertently fostered a system that disproportionately reinforces tertiary health care at the expense of PHC. While this insurance-driven model alleviates financial burdens related to hospitalization and medical procedures, it dilutes the foundational tenets of UHC by marginalizing primary health care.
1. Uphold
Meaning: To support or maintain something, especially principles or laws.
- Context in the Article: India has long upheld the principle of ‘Health for All,’ meaning it has consistently supported and maintained this goal under the UHC framework.
- Example Sentence: The Supreme Court upheld the new environmental law, ensuring stricter regulations on pollution.
2. Underscore
Meaning: To emphasize or highlight the importance of something.
- Context in the Article: The UHC framework underscores the significance of primary health care (PHC), meaning it strongly emphasizes that PHC should be the main focus of healthcare policies.
- Example Sentence: The teacher underscored the importance of time management during exams.
3. Striving to Curtail
Striving – Making a strong effort to achieve something.
Curtail – To reduce or limit something.
- Context in the Article: The phrase “striving to curtail” means making a strong effort to reduce something. In the article, it refers to the government’s effort to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses for people.
- Example Sentence: The new traffic rules aim at curtailing road accidents in the city.
4. Mitigate
Meaning: To make something less severe, harmful, or painful.
- Context in the Article: In the article, mitigate refers to reducing the financial burden of out-of-pocket medical expenses (OOPE). The government is trying to make healthcare more affordable by lessening the direct expenses people have to pay.
- Example Sentence: The new policy aims to mitigate the impact of rising healthcare costs on low-income families.
5. Fostered
Meaning: Encouraged, promoted, or developed; to help something grow or increase, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
- Context in the Article: The phrase “inadvertently fostered” in the article means that the healthcare policy, while aimed at reducing costs and improving accessibility, accidentally led to an unintended consequence — the scheme has unintentionally strengthened hospital-based care rather than preventive care.
- Example Sentence: The new technology inadvertently fostered a digital divide, benefiting urban areas while rural regions were left behind.
6. Alleviate
Meaning: To make something less severe or reduce difficulties.
- Context in the Article: The insurance-driven model alleviates financial burdens, meaning it helps ease the cost of hospital and medical procedures for individuals.
- Example Sentence: The doctor prescribed medication to alleviate her headache.
Difference Between “Mitigate” and “Alleviate” in the Passage
Both mitigate and alleviate refer to reducing negative effects, but they have subtle differences in meaning and usage.
1. Mitigate – To lessen the severity or impact of something negative
- It means to reduce the intensity or harmful effects of a problem.
- In the passage:
“The launch of AB-PMJAY marked a determined effort to mitigate out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE).”- Here, mitigate means the scheme aims to reduce the financial burden caused by medical expenses.
2. Alleviate – To relieve or ease pain, suffering, or difficulty
- It is often used in contexts related to human suffering or burdens.
- In the passage:
“While this insurance-driven model alleviates financial burdens related to hospitalization and medical procedures…”- Here, alleviate means the policy helps relieve the financial strain on individuals by covering hospital expenses.
Key Difference:
- Mitigate is about reducing risk or harm (e.g., preventing financial ruin).
- Alleviate is about providing relief or comfort (e.g., making hospital expenses easier to handle).
7. Dilutes
Meaning: To weaken or reduce the effectiveness of something.
- Context in the Article: The policy dilutes the foundational tenets of UHC, meaning it weakens the core principles of Universal Health Coverage by shifting focus away from primary healthcare.
- Example Sentence: Adding too much water dilutes the juice, making it less flavorful.
8. Tenets
Meaning: Core principles or beliefs that form the foundation of a system.
- Context in the Article: The tenets of UHC are being weakened, meaning the fundamental principles of universal healthcare—such as equal access and strong primary care—are not being fully upheld.
- Example Sentence: Freedom of speech and democracy are fundamental tenets of a free society.
9. Marginalizing
Meaning: Pushing something or someone to the edge, making it less important or significant in comparison to others.
- Context in the Article:
“It dilutes the foundational tenets of UHC by marginalizing primary health care.”- Here, marginalizing means that primary health care (PHC) is being neglected or given less importance in favor of hospital-based treatments.
- Instead of strengthening PHC, the healthcare system is focusing more on expensive hospital treatments, thereby pushing PHC to the sidelines.
- Example Sentence: The new company policy was criticized for marginalizing older employees by favoring younger recruits.
