Universal Health Coverage: The Missing Middle

Universal Health Coverage: The Missing Middle | World Health Day 2026 | Panel Discussion | April 7, 2026 | 6:30 – 8 PM IST | #PopulationAndDevelopment

On the occasion of World Health Day (2026)

#IMPRI  Center for Human Dignity and Development (CHDD), IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi invites you to the #WebPolicyTalk series on:

The State of Population and Development – #PopulationAndDevelopment

A Panel Discussion on

Universal Health Coverage: The Missing Middle

Live Video: https://youtube.com/live/z2Ba1oJ_-vg

HQ Video: https://youtu.be/Pk_OcdK9E5g

Podcasts: Spotify | YouTube Music

Details of the #WebPolicyTalk:
Date: April 7, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m. IST
Platforms: Zoom | YouTube Live @ YouTube.com/@impriindia | Spotify 

Registration Form: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5aoctryiSIuEVpy8PZjkSg

ABOUT

As India advances toward becoming a global economic powerhouse, the question of equitable and affordable healthcare access has emerged as central to sustainable development. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is no longer just a welfare goal—it is a critical pillar for strengthening human capital, enhancing productivity, and ensuring inclusive growth.

Despite significant strides through initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, a large segment of the population—often referred to as the “missing middle”—remains excluded from effective health protection. This group, comprising informal workers, self-employed individuals, and lower-middle-income households, is neither poor enough to qualify for government schemes nor affluent enough to afford private insurance. Estimates suggest that nearly 30% or more of India’s population lacks any financial protection for healthcare, leaving them highly vulnerable to catastrophic health expenditures.

High out-of-pocket health spending continues to push millions into poverty every year, highlighting structural gaps in India’s healthcare financing and delivery systems. Addressing the needs of this “missing middle” is therefore essential for achieving the vision of Health for All and meeting India’s broader development goals.

This panel discussion brings together leading experts, practitioners, and policy thinkers to deliberate on:

• Bridging the coverage gap in India’s health system
• Strengthening financial protection and reducing out-of-pocket expenditure
• Designing inclusive and portable healthcare models
• Aligning UHC with economic growth, gender equity, and social justice

Join us for an insightful dialogue as we explore pathways to transform India’s healthcare framework from a fragmented safety net into a truly universal and inclusive system.

Experts

Chair & Moderator: Dr Manorama Bakshi, Director, Consocia Advisory; Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI

Expert Panelists:

Dr Urvashi Prasad, Ex-Director, Office of Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog

Prof Pradeep Kumar Panda, Professor, Public Health; Dean – School of Public Health; Acting Dean – School of Management, Asian Institute of Public Health (AIPH) University, Bhubaneswar

Dr K Madan Gopal, Senior Health Sector Expert; Former Senior Consultant, NITI Aayog; Public Health Systems Advisor

Dr Ravi Duggal, Independent Researcher and Activist, Public Health Policy, Systems and Financing; Budget, Governance and Social Accountability

Dr Anuska Kalita, Director, Health Systems, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, Founder-Director, Foundation for People-centric Health Systems

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