NEW DELHI: Keeping Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in mind, the Union health ministry has proposed roping in private players for providing affordable healthcare services to all.

In its draft health policy 2015, the centre has proposed purchasing services like ambulatory care, tertiary care to non-medical services like catering and laundry to private sector.

“The task of providing health care for all cannot be undertaken by the government, acting alone,” reads the new health policy document.

Given the large presence of private sector in urban areas, the ministry has proposed developing sustainable models of partnership with for-profit and non-profit sector.

To reduce out of pocket costs, “free primary care provision by the public sector supplemented by strategic purchase of secondary care hospitalisation and tertiary care services from both public and private sector would be the main financing strategy,” it stated.