Time to build healthcare system for future generations, says Health Minister JP Nadda

India needs to strategize now to build healthcare systems that will serve future generations, as any transformation will take time, JP Nadda, Minister for Health & Family Welfare said during the CII Annual Business Summit on May 29.

Minister Nadda called for efforts to strengthen the healthcare system to meet the 2047 development roadmap, and underlined Centre’s commitment to healthcare reforms, innovation and accessibility.

Citing the example of Ayushman Bharat programme, Nadda said as many as 62 crore people have benefitted from the scheme, and about 9.4 crore hospitalisations have been covered so far under this.

The minister stressed on the need to utilise the nation’s demographic divided to grow healthcare services. "In 2017, we came out with a new health policy, after 20 years (last one made in 1997), which for the first time focused on preventive, curative, and rehabilitative part of health policy," said Nadda, adding that healthcare should be "affordable for all".

"In the past 10 years, we have taken a leap forward. For preventive part, we've got now 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM)," said the Minister. The AAM are primary healthcare centres that are universal and free to access, with a focus on wellness and an expanded range of services closer to the community.

Nadda also unveiled CII’s Centre for Health, which will focus on collaboration, low-cost innovation, streamlining supply barriers, and promote workplace wellness as a boardroom agenda.

Additionally, the Minister stressed on the pivotal role of the private sector in driving India's healthcare, encouraging the sector to innovate in AI/and tech-based innovations for enabling "mass screenings" and "telemedicine" in India.

“Public-private partnerships can be instrumental in ensuring that early detection and preventive healthcare reach every corner of the country,” the Minister added.

JP Nadda also called for a more humane, responsive and time-bound regulatory environment. “While we must uphold the highest standards of quality and safety, we must also avoid unnecessary delays, red tape must not become a barrier to timely progress,” he said.