Comparative Primary Health Care Reforms Insights for South Asia Policy | IIMB & NUS Highlights

Explore how comparative primary health care reforms insights for South Asia policy presented by Prof Arnab Mukherji at the NUS roundtable are shaping evidence‑based PHC reforms. Learn expert takeaways, global comparisons, and strategy implications.

Introduction

In a significant development for health systems across Asia, comparative primary health care reforms insights for South Asia policy were presented by Professor Arnab Mukherji, Chairperson of the Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy & Management at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). At a high‑level regional roundtable on “Strengthening Primary Health Care Through Evidence‑Informed Policy and Practice” held at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on December 9–10, 2025, researchers, policymakers, and development partners converged to exchange lessons from ongoing primary health care (PHC) reforms across multiple countries. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

This event, jointly organised by the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO), provided fertile ground for deep dialogue on how evidence shapes health policy decisions, advancing universal health coverage (UHC) across the region. The insights shared are expected to bolster PHC reform strategies in South Asia and beyond, offering comparative analysis that policymakers and researchers can leverage to enhance health delivery systems.

The Context of the NUS Roundtable

The regional roundtable brought together a cross‑section of stakeholders — from ministry officials to health systems researchers — with the goal of assessing how diverse PHC reforms are progressing in Asia and identifying avenues for evidence‑informed decision‑making. Over two days, participants engaged in data‑driven discussions, shared policy experiences, and co‑developed pathways to strengthen PHC systems.

Professor Arnab Mukherji’s presentation, anchored in comparative research, highlighted key lessons from reforms in:

• Nepal
• Chhattisgarh (India)
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Sri Lanka
• Maldives
• Timor‑Leste
• Thailand

These country examples provided a comparative lens to understand what has worked in strengthening PHC structures and advancing universal health coverage goals. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

What Are Comparative Primary Health Care Reforms Insights for South Asia Policy?

Before delving into specifics, it’s essential to define the central theme:

Comparative primary health care reforms insights for South Asia policy refer to analytical observations comparing health care strategies and outcomes across multiple countries in South Asia and neighboring regions, focusing on how various reforms influence PHC effectiveness, equity, and scalability.

This comparative approach helps policymakers benchmark progress, identify shared challenges, and adopt evidence‑informed frameworks suited to local contexts. At global platforms like NUS, such insights catalyse regional cooperation on public health policy.

Key Highlights from Prof Arnab Mukherji’s Presentation

1. Evidence Informs Policy Deliberation

One of the principal takeaways from Prof Mukherji’s session was the emphasis on data and evidence as core drivers of PHC reforms. Across countries studied, robust data systems have helped:

• Track service delivery performance
• Identify gaps in community health coverage
• Inform policy recalibration over time

For instance, Nepal’s community‑based health programs have been lauded for integrating local data into decision processes, while Chhattisgarh’s district health initiatives emphasize performance monitoring through evidence dashboards. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

These comparative findings underscore that sound evidence not only reveals successes but also illuminates areas that require policy adaptation and resource reallocation.

2. Multi‑Country Reforms: Shared Lessons and Divergent Paths

Across South Asia and Southeast Asia, patterns emerged in how countries approached PHC reform:

• Bangladesh relies heavily on community health workers to expand primary care reach.
• Sri Lanka has long emphasized preventive care, resulting in significant improvements in maternal and child health outcomes.
• Bhutan’s health system integrates traditional practices with modern PHC strategies, enhancing accessibility in rural regions.
• Maldives focuses on telehealth and island‑wide health outreach due to geographic dispersion.

Each reform trajectory offers comparative primary health care reforms insights for South Asia policy, helping countries adapt successful components to their own socio‑economic landscapes.

3. Strengthening Decision‑Making Through Integrated Evidence

During the roundtable, Prof Mukherji noted that integrating research evidence into decision‑making requires purposeful institutional frameworks where researchers and policymakers are co‑creators of policy solutions. This includes:

• Establishing health systems research units within health ministries
• Creating feedback mechanisms between local health workers and central policymakers
• Incentivising preventive care interventions based on measurable outcomes

Such mechanisms are instrumental in moving from ad hoc reforms to systemic health improvements that endure over time.

Global and Regional Relevance of PHC Reforms

Evidence from Across South Asia and Beyond

While the focus of the NUS roundtable was regional, the PHC reform discussions reflect broader global trends involving WHO‑led efforts and national health strategy shifts. According to the World Health Organization, primary health care systems that are people‑centered, data‑driven, and evidence‑based are essential to achieving UHC targets by 2030. Strong PHC systems can reduce health inequities, increase access to essential services, and lower overall health costs. (WHO)‡

In India, the National Health Policy articulates PHC as a cornerstone for health service delivery, calling for strengthened infrastructure and workforce training — priorities echoed in the comparative insights shared by Prof Mukherji.†

By capturing comparative primary health care reforms insights for South Asia policy, countries gain a strategic toolkit to tailor reforms that best align with their health system goals and developmental priorities.

The Promise of Evidence‑Informed Reforms for UHC

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a global health goal that ensures all individuals have access to essential health services without financial hardship. High‑performing PHC systems are the backbone of this vision. Countries with strong PHC infrastructures generally demonstrate:

• Improved health outcomes
• Reduced disease burden
• Better maternal and child health metrics

For example, Sri Lanka’s PHC reforms have correlated with marked declines in infant mortality and broad immunization coverage, outcomes that align with the principles of UHC.†

By leveraging comparative primary health care reforms insights for South Asia policy, governments can design inclusive reforms that prioritize preventive care, integrate community health workers, and ensure systems are accountable and responsive.

Expert Voices: Why This Matters

Public health experts globally emphasize that primary health care reforms should be rooted in local realities, supported by evidence, and informed by regional collaboration. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization, previously highlighted that community‑centric care models can significantly reduce gaps in health access for underserved populations.‡

These insights resonate with the contexts discussed at the NUS roundtable, where multiple experts — including those from Southeast Asia and South Asia — iterated the same theme: Evidence is the foundation of sustainable health system reforms.

Integrating Internal Resources for Learners & Policy Practitioners

For readers and learners interested in expanding their knowledge beyond PHC reforms:

Internal Learning Resources

• For structured NCERT Courses, check out courses at edunovations.com
• Catch up on the latest Current Affairs to understand related health policies
• Detailed Notes and MCQs help reinforce key concepts
• Explore Videos and Syllabus content for comprehensive learning
• Access Free NCERT Downloads and Mind Maps for visual revision

These internal resources provide foundational understanding crucial for public policy, health systems, and governance studies, complementing real‑world reform insights like those discussed at the NUS platform.

External Stakeholder Support

Robust reforms also rely on effective collaboration with external partners — policymakers, institutions, and tech providers. For support in building educational platforms or stakeholder engagement tools, organisations such as Mart Ind Infotech offer services that help institutions connect with broader audiences and streamline digital solutions.

Conclusion

The presentation of comparative primary health care reforms insights for South Asia policy by Prof Arnab Mukherji at the NUS roundtable exemplifies how research‑led evidence enhances policy dialogue and reform implementation. By examining reform efforts from diverse countries, stakeholders gain actionable knowledge that can inform more resilient and adaptive health systems.

Whether for policymakers, researchers, or health practitioners, these insights underscore the value of evidence‑informed policy design, regional cooperation, and sustained commitment to strengthening primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage.

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10 FAQs on Primary Health Care Reforms and Policy Insights

1. What are comparative primary health care reforms insights for South Asia policy?
   It refers to analytical comparisons of PHC reforms across countries in South Asia, highlighting strategies and outcomes that inform region‑wide health policy decisions.
2. Why are comparative insights on primary health care important for policy?
   Comparative insights reveal what reforms work and why, helping policymakers adopt evidence‑informed strategies tailored to local needs.
3. How does evidence inform primary health care reforms?
   By providing data on implementation outcomes, challenges, and successes, evidence guides targeted interventions and effective resource allocation.
4. Which countries were compared in the NUS roundtable presentation?
   Countries included Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Timor‑Leste, Thailand, and Chhattisgarh (India).
5. What role does primary health care play in universal health coverage?
   PHC is fundamental to UHC because it ensures access to essential health services and preventive care without financial hardship.
6. How can developing countries use these insights?
   They can benchmark successful reforms, adapt best practices, and design evidence‑based policies to improve health access and outcomes.
7. Are comparative PHC insights applicable beyond South Asia?
   Yes, lessons learned can be adapted globally, especially in regions with similar health system challenges.
8. What challenges are commonly faced in PHC reforms?
   Common challenges include workforce shortages, data gaps, financing constraints, and fragmented service delivery.
9. How do research institutions contribute to PHC reforms?
   They generate evidence, evaluate programs, and help translate findings into policy recommendations.
10. Where can policymakers find more resources on health reforms?
    They can explore WHO reports, national health plans, and research consortium outputs focused on PHC and UHC.