Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India’s health sector was marred by a lack of integrated approach and long-term vision for decades after Independence but his Government has not confined it to the Health Ministry alone and has dealt with it with the “whole of Government” outlook as well as consistently tried to minimise country’s dependence on foreign countries for medicines and vaccines.
Addressing a post-Budget webinar on “Health and Medical Research”, Modi said that life-savers like medicines, vaccines and medical devices were weaponised when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, and asserted that his Government has been consistently trying to minimise India’s dependence on foreign countries in the health sector.
“Our entrepreneurs should ensure India doesn’t have to import any technology and becomes self-reliant,” he said, highlighting various measures taken by his Government to boost entrepreneurship in the field.
“Today the market size of the pharma sector is 4 lakh crore. It can be worth 10 lakh crore with proper coordination between the private sector and the academia,” he said.
Noting that the pandemic tested even prosperous nations, he said as the pandemic focused global attention on health, India went a step further and focused on
wellness.
“That is why we have put forward a vision before the world — ‘One Earth One Health’. This involves holistic healthcare for all creatures —humans, animals or plants,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister said “making treatment affordable has been a top priority of our Government” and through the Ayushman Bharat scheme about `80,000 crore of poor patients were saved.
Noting that March 7 is observed as Jan Aushadhi Diwas, the Prime Minister pointed out that affordable medicines through 9,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have saved about `20,000 crore of the poor and middle class families. These two schemes have saved `1 lakh crore of citizens, he observed.
Underlining the importance of a strong health infrastructure for the treatment of serious ailments, he said more than 1.5 lakh health centres are being developed in close proximity of residential areas. Facilities for screening serious ailments like diabetes, cancer and heart-related issues will also be available at these centres, Modi added.
The Prime Minister said critical health infrastructure is being made accessible in small towns and villages across the country under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission which is not only giving rise to new hospitals but it is also creating a new and complete health ecosystem.
As a result, Modi noted, many opportunities are being created for health entrepreneurs, investors and professionals.
On human resources in the sector, he said more than 260 new medical colleges have been opened in the last few years, doubling the medical seats in graduate and postgraduate medical courses as compared to 2014.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the emphasis on the nursing field in this year’s budget.
“Opening 157 nursing colleges in the vicinity of medical colleges is a huge step in the direction of medical human resources. This may be useful in fulfilling global demand, not just the domestic need”, he added.
Modi also highlighted the role of technology in constantly making medical services accessible and affordable and elaborated on the government’s focus on implementation of technology in the sector.
While giving details of new schemes in the medical device sector, he spoke about bulk drug parks, medical device parks, more than Rs 30,000 crore incentives on PLI schemes, and said the last few years have witnessed 12-14 per cent growth in the medical devices sector.
Highlighting the growing confidence of the world in India’s pharma sector, he said there was a need to capitalise on this and work towards protecting this image. He also suggested that the pharma sector identifies important areas for investment.
While noting the impact of the Government’s efforts on preventive healthcare, he listed Swacch Bharat Abhiyan for cleanliness, Ujjwala Scheme for smoke-related diseases, Jal Jeevan Mission for tackling waterborne diseases and National POSHAN Mission for addressing anaemia and malnutrition. He also highlighted the role of millets in the International Year of Millets.
Noting the establishment of the global centre for traditional medicine under the aegis of WHO in India, he said efforts should be made for evidence-based research in Ayurveda.
The Prime Minister stressed that a developed health and wellness ecosystem can be created in India only with “Sabka Prayas” (everyone’s efforts) and requested all stakeholders to give their valuable suggestions.