Journal Articles

As of May, 2021, the resurgent wave of COVID-19 in India has been spreading to rural populations and other countries in the region. The pandemic has foregrounded the long-standing need for universal health coverage (UHC) in India. The Lancet Citizens’ Commission on Reimagining India’s Health System was launched in December, 2020, to map the pathway to achieving UHC in the coming decade through a participatory, solutions-driven approach. Yet in the present moment, India confronts an immediate emergency to save lives and reduce suffering. On behalf of the Lancet Citizens’ Commission, we propose eight recommendations for the central and state governments that share responsibility for the health of the India’s people. Our recommendations complement those of Kuppalli and colleagues’ call for actions from the international community. Our intention in making these recommendations, some of which have been recently voiced by authoritative voices in the country, is to amplify and synthesise what must be done urgently.