Strengthening policy interventions at the primary health care level to achieve Universal Oral Health Coverage in Karnataka, India

Rajeev B R and Manu Raj Mathur

Background

Oral health is a neglected public health issue and the political priority accorded to oral health is very low in India. The policy window to highlight oral health’s status of neglect in the broader health and social arena is minimal. A need for strengthening governance, particularly policy intervention mechanisms such as tailor-made oral health policies and subsequently designing appropriate oral health programs to achieve Universal Oral Health Coverage (UOHC). Karnataka is a frontrunner in health, yet oral health is not prominently addressed. In this policy brief, attention to how oral health is problematised in the policies is made along with formulating recommendations based on consultations with stakeholders from the Karnataka state.

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