GK Question

polity hard fill_blank

The Preamble's justice commitment has guided healthcare access jurisprudence: Paschim Banga (1996) recognized right to emergency medical care as part of Article 21, Ayushman Bharat provides health insurance for vulnerable families, reflecting that health justice requires not just facilities but ______ access to quality care regardless of economic status.

  1. economic
  2. equitable
  3. administrative
  4. military

Answer: equitable

Justice and healthcare access from Preamble: (a) Preamble's justice promise: Social, economic, political justice — comprehensive vision including health justice as foundation for human dignity, capability development, (b) Healthcare access evolution: (i) Paschim Banga (1996): Recognized failure of government hospital to provide timely emergency treatment violates Article 21; state obligation to ensure access to emergency healthcare, (ii) Parmanand Katara (1989): Every doctor (government or private) has duty to provide emergency medical care; right to life includes right to emergency treatment, (iii) Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY): Provides health insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for economically vulnerable families; operationalizes constitutional commitment to health justice, (c) Equitable access dimensions: (i) Availability: Adequate healthcare infrastructure, personnel, medicines in rural, urban areas, (ii) Accessibility: Physical, financial, informational access to healthcare services, especially for marginalized groups, (iii) Quality: Standards for care, patient safety, accountability ensure meaningful health outcomes, not just service provision, (d) Applications: (i) Primary healthcare: Health and Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat provide comprehensive primary care, preventive services, (ii) Financial protection: PM-JAY reduces out-of-pocket expenditure, catastrophic health costs for poor families, (iii) Digital health: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission enables portability, continuity of care through digital health records, (e) Illustrates transformative justice: Preamble's justice promise operationalized through healthcare access jurisprudence; balance between public provision, private participation, financial protection essential for realizing constitutional vision of inclusive health for all.

Topic Preamble - Justice and Healthcare Access
Exam Relevance Preamble justice and healthcare access critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams