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Preventive Healthcare a National Priority for India’s Vision 2047
New Delhi, August 2024 – In a significant address at the “Global MedTech Summit 2024” organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Hotel Le Meridian, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored India’s emergence as a leading cost-effective healthcare destination and a global pharmaceutical powerhouse.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, who serves as the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and various other departments, highlighted the transformative strides made in India’s healthcare sector. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government envisions a healthy India, aiming to eliminate communicable diseases and prevent non-communicable diseases,” he stated. He emphasized India’s commitment to accessible healthcare, as demonstrated by the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drive.
Addressing the new challenges posed by metabolic disorders and increasing life spans, Dr. Singh stressed the urgency of preventive healthcare as a national priority for achieving India’s Vision 2047. He noted the alarming rise in health issues traditionally associated with older age, such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and heart attacks, occurring in younger populations. “These health challenges not only threaten our youth but also impede our nation-building efforts,” he warned.
Dr. Singh advocated for robust “PPP + PPP” collaborations, urging public and private sectors in India to partner with international counterparts. He pointed to the success in the space and biotechnology sectors as models for integrated partnerships. “The opening up of the space sector attracted private investments exceeding Rs 1,000 crore within months and saw the rise of over 200 startups from just one in 2022,” he remarked.
Highlighting India’s achievements in bio-manufacturing, Dr. Singh noted that the sector has grown from $10 billion in 2014 to $130 billion in 2024. He described India as one of the top six bio-manufacturers globally, praised for its cost-effective and efficient healthcare solutions. He also acknowledged the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) for fostering industry linkages and research advancements.
Dr. Singh praised the efforts of the Department of Biotechnology in advancing translational health sciences. He pointed out the substantial growth in bio-manufacturing and bio-foundry, which has multiplied more than tenfold over the past decade.
In discussing medical devices, Dr. Singh identified the sector as a “sunrise industry,” with the government striving to establish India as a manufacturing hub under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. A research group has been established to create indices, set benchmarks, and propose action plans to further this goal.
Dr. Singh highlighted the critical role of technology in healthcare, particularly the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to enhance healthcare delivery. He shared his positive experiences with telemedicine, which has made healthcare services accessible even in remote villages, and emphasized the need for human intervention to supplement AI, citing the example of CPGRAMS.
Concluding his address, Dr. Jitendra Singh called for strong industry-academia-research and entrepreneurship linkages from the outset, reinforcing the necessity of a collaborative approach to realize the vision of a healthy India by 2047.
