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Introduction: Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) consumption has increased to higher levels across all corners of the world. High sugar diets in the form of SSBs lead to increased calorie intake with almost no nutritive value when compared to solid food and contributes to the increased energy intake resulting in an unhealthy weight gain, often associated with health issues such as obesity, diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, early tooth decay and formation of cavities. It is also observed that consumption of SSBs is linked to unhealthy habits like smoking, decreased physical activity, increased intake of fast food and increased screen time. Method: The required information on SSB tax implementation at the global level was retrieved from the literature reviews. Result: Taking such detrimental effects of SSBs into consideration, many countries are putting efforts to tackle the problem of higher consumption of SSBs by adopting measures such as taxations on SSBs. However, it is also extremely important to understand how these taxes help in generating higher revenues to the government which, in turn, can be used for various community needs in the respective countries. Conclusion: The same revenue can also be utilised for implementation of comprehensive healthcare programmes especially in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), by providing preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services as a way to progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Background: The household spending for health care in terms of out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPEs) in India remains one of the highest in the world at around 55% of current health expenditures and 48% of total health expenditures. Hence, it becomes extremely important to explore the determinants, i.e., the factors leading to OOPE. Objectives: To explore the determinants of OOPE and the financial strategies undertaken by the households to cope up with OOPE. Methodology: A longitudinal study was conducted among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who availed care at a Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme empanelled health care facility. They recorded their OOPE over a period of 6 months in the hand-book provided to them. An interview schedule was administered at the end of 6 months, to explore the determinants of OOPE and coping strategies. Results: Among the sociodemographic characteristics, age and gender had an impact on OOPE. Females had higher OOPE (INR 10,100) when compared to that of males (INR 9360) and with increased age of more than 60 years, there was a dip in OOPE (60-INR 10,100). The duration of current treatment has been another important determinant, whereas borrowings were the most predominant financial strategy to cope up with OOPE. Conclusion: Despite having the health insurance coverage sponsored by government, CKD patients had OOPE pertaining to the various aspects such as age, gender, comorbidities, and number of members in the household utilizing the scheme and the coverage amount under the scheme.

National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented under the aegis of the National Health Mission with resource sharing between the State Governments and the Central Government. The Government of India has committed to achieving the SDG goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB) in the country by 2025, five years ahead of the Global Target. In light of this ambitious target and to accelerate momentum towards the ultimate goal, an appropriate and representative change in the name of the programme was imperative, and it was decided to rename the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) as NTEP [1].

World Health Organization (WHO) defines telemedicine as “the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities” [1].

“The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”. This principle has been the foundation on which the World Health Organization (WHO) was formed in the year 1948 and remained the roadmap that has led the world for over decades in the health sector [1].