Introduction India, with its vast population of over 1.4 billion people, is one of the…
MCQs with answers on “India’s Challenges in Achieving Universal Healthcare”
1. Which of the following is the main objective of India’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC)?
a) To increase the number of healthcare professionals in India
b) To provide affordable and quality healthcare services to all
c) To privatize the healthcare sector
d) To eliminate all private hospitals in India
Answer: b) To provide affordable and quality healthcare services to all
2. Which of the following is NOT a challenge faced by India in achieving Universal Healthcare?
a) Inadequate healthcare infrastructure
b) High out-of-pocket expenditure
c) Low healthcare worker-to-population ratio
d) High availability of healthcare services
Answer: d) High availability of healthcare services
3. What percentage of India’s healthcare expenditure is financed by the private sector?
a) 50%
b) 65%
c) 70%
d) 80%
Answer: c) 70%
4. The National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 in India aims to achieve which of the following goals by 2030?
a) Achieving Universal Health Coverage
b) Reducing the number of healthcare workers
c) Privatizing healthcare infrastructure
d) Providing healthcare only in urban areas
Answer: a) Achieving Universal Health Coverage
5. Which of the following is a key challenge in rural healthcare delivery in India?
a) Adequate availability of healthcare professionals
b) Insufficient healthcare facilities in remote areas
c) High technological infrastructure
d) High level of medical tourism
Answer: b) Insufficient healthcare facilities in remote areas
6. Which organization developed the Ayushman Bharat scheme, India’s largest health insurance scheme?
a) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
b) National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)
c) World Health Organization (WHO)
d) Government of India
Answer: a) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
7. Which of the following is the primary goal of Ayushman Bharat?
a) To provide free treatment for diseases like cancer only
b) To offer health insurance for 10 crore poor families
c) To expand private sector healthcare
d) To privatize all public hospitals
Answer: b) To offer health insurance for 10 crore poor families
8. The lack of which of the following is considered a major obstacle to Universal Health Coverage in India?
a) Efficient healthcare technology
b) Access to clean drinking water
c) Availability of healthcare professionals
d) Public awareness of healthcare schemes
Answer: c) Availability of healthcare professionals
9. Which of the following sectors contributes the largest share to India’s health expenditure?
a) Government sector
b) Private sector
c) International donors
d) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Answer: b) Private sector
10. Which of the following is a factor that impacts the affordability of healthcare in India?
a) Government subsidies for healthcare
b) High costs of medical education
c) Low level of private insurance schemes
d) Public-private partnerships
Answer: b) High costs of medical education
11. Which of the following is a key feature of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)?
a) It offers free health insurance for all citizens
b) It provides free health services to the poorest families
c) It focuses on providing free treatment for diseases like cancer
d) It is available only for government employees
Answer: b) It provides free health services to the poorest families
12. The total government health expenditure in India as a percentage of GDP is approximately:
a) 1.0%
b) 1.5%
c) 2.5%
d) 3.0%
Answer: b) 1.5%
13. Which of the following is a significant determinant of India’s healthcare challenges?
a) High spending on research and development
b) Rapid urbanization and population growth
c) Inadequate public health insurance
d) High availability of healthcare technology
Answer: b) Rapid urbanization and population growth
14. Which of the following is a major contributor to the high out-of-pocket expenditure in India’s healthcare system?
a) Availability of government-provided health services
b) High private sector participation in healthcare
c) Low insurance coverage
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
15. What does the term ‘universal health coverage’ mean in the context of India?
a) Availability of healthcare to only those with insurance
b) Comprehensive health services without financial hardship
c) Only urban populations having access to healthcare
d) Free healthcare services for all citizens irrespective of income
Answer: b) Comprehensive health services without financial hardship
16. Which of the following are essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India?
a) Public-private collaboration
b) Equitable access to healthcare
c) Strong public health infrastructure
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
17. The concept of telemedicine is particularly useful for which group of the population in India?
a) Urban population
b) Elderly population
c) Rural population
d) Migrant workers
Answer: c) Rural population
18. Which initiative was introduced by the Government of India to address the shortage of healthcare professionals?
a) National Health Mission (NHM)
b) National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
c) Ayushman Bharat
d) National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
Answer: a) National Health Mission (NHM)
19. India has a shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas. What is the doctor-patient ratio in India?
a) 1 doctor per 1,000 patients
b) 1 doctor per 2,000 patients
c) 1 doctor per 5,000 patients
d) 1 doctor per 10,000 patients
Answer: b) 1 doctor per 2,000 patients
20. The National Health Policy 2017 aims to achieve what target for public health spending by 2025?
a) 1% of GDP
b) 2% of GDP
c) 3% of GDP
d) 4% of GDP
Answer: b) 2% of GDP
21. Which of the following is an essential aspect of Universal Health Coverage?
a) Expanding the insurance sector
b) Reducing public healthcare spending
c) Addressing the social determinants of health
d) Privatizing healthcare services
Answer: c) Addressing the social determinants of health
22. The implementation of which program aims to reduce the cost of healthcare in rural areas?
a) Ayushman Bharat
b) National Health Insurance Scheme
c) Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
23. Which of the following are causes of India’s healthcare inequities?
a) Lack of healthcare access in rural and remote areas
b) Insufficient public health facilities
c) Financial barriers to accessing healthcare
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
24. What is the primary aim of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)?
a) To provide health insurance for citizens
b) To establish new AIIMS and upgrade existing healthcare facilities
c) To provide free medicines to the poor
d) To privatize healthcare facilities
Answer: b) To establish new AIIMS and upgrade existing healthcare facilities
25. India’s health insurance penetration is considered low. What is the approximate percentage of India’s population covered by health insurance?
a) 10%
b) 15%
c) 30%
d) 40%
Answer: c) 30%
26. The ‘NITI Aayog’ has recommended which of the following to improve healthcare in India?
a) Complete privatization of the healthcare sector
b) Increase in government healthcare spending to 2.5% of GDP
c) Eliminate health insurance
d) Reduction of healthcare expenditure
Answer: b) Increase in government healthcare spending to 2.5% of GDP
27. Which of the following is a major health challenge India faces in its urban areas?
a) High infant mortality rate
b) Lack of sanitation and clean drinking water
c) The growing burden of non-communicable diseases
d) Malnutrition
Answer: c) The growing burden of non-communicable diseases
28. The concept of ‘Health for All’ as per WHO was endorsed by India in which year?
a) 1978
b) 1983
c) 1991
d) 2000
Answer: a) 1978
29. The shortage of which healthcare professionals is most acute in rural India?
a) Doctors
b) Nurses
c) Pharmacists
d) Technicians
Answer: a) Doctors
30. The National Health Mission focuses on which of the following areas?
a) Strengthening healthcare infrastructure
b) Improving access to healthcare services
c) Enhancing the quality of services
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
These MCQs cover a wide range of issues related to India’s healthcare challenges and policies aimed at achieving universal health coverage.
