MUMBAI — In a bid to overhaul India’s healthcare infrastructure and alleviate the burden on the economically vulnerable, Rajesh Sharma, Vice President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee and former Deputy Mayor of Mumbai, has submitted a formal proposal to the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda.

Gaps in Current Schemes and International Precedents

In his letter, Sharma highlights that global healthcare systems are failing under the weight of solo-party financial responsibility. Pointing to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), he notes that the system is “crumbling” despite tax-paying citizens contributing 4.5% of their income, primarily due to increased longevity and complex modern treatments.

Turning the focus to India, Sharma acknowledges existing welfare initiatives like Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) and state-level MP-JAY schemes. However, he emphasizes a massive gap between policy design and real-world execution:

“On paper the PM JAY, Ayushman Bharat and MP JAY schemes should have had a 90% coverage. In reality it is not so,” Sharma notes, citing issues such as unreasonable under-pricing of medical care, delayed payments to hospitals, and a general lack of institutional trust that ultimately leaves vulnerable patients exposed.

The Proposed 30-30-30-10 Healthcare Formula

To address these systemic bottlenecks, Sharma argues that healthcare cannot succeed if only one entity is responsible for the financial burden. Instead, he proposes a mandatory cost-sharing ecosystem where the government, insurance providers, employers, and citizens share accountability.

• 30% Government Subsidy: Paid directly by the state. Sharma suggests that taxpayers should be entitled to an income tax deduction on medical expenses if direct government payments fail to materialize.

• 30% Insurance Coverage: Mandating universal health coverage so that insurance providers cover nearly a third of the bill.

• 30% Employer Contribution: Borne by employers for salaried individuals.

• 10% Patient/Trust Responsibility: The remaining fraction to be paid by the patient, family, or charitable trusts.

Additionally, the proposal advocates for a mandatory 10% concession by doctors and hospitals specifically for weaker sections of society to ensure immediate relief.

Call for Structural Reform

Sharma concluded his appeal by requesting the Union Health Ministry to evaluate this framework thoroughly to strengthen and sustain India’s long-term healthcare viability.

The letter has also been forwarded for review to key legislative policymakers, including Prof. Ramgopal Yadav, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Health, and Smt. Shobha Bachhav, MP and member of the same committee, indicating an effort to push this proposal into serious parliamentary discussion.