The persistent health equity challenges in India pose a critical barrier to achieving Universal Health Coverage. In this context discuss the role of the public and private sectors in ensuring adequate health access and outcomes across rural and urban areas.

Universal health coverage refers to the provision of qualified health services without financial hardships to all the beneficiaries. Health Equity challenges and impact on Universal Health Care: Geographical challenges => difficult to deliver health service to remote areas. Eg: North-East. Rural-urban divide => primary healthcare services are weak in rural areas => only 40% coverage (NFHS-5). Male-female divide => females have low iron, B12 prone to respiratory diseases. Per-capita income variations => across the economic north-south states. Tribal disparities => high degree of prevalence of sickle cell diseases among tribal. Vulnerable sections => LAT 9+, elderly, persons with disabilities etc.