Union Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, India has become one of the most economical healthcare destinations in the world with the latest technological tools deployed in the delivery of care.
Speaking at the Healthcare Leaders Summit-2022 of Economic Times, Jitendra Singh said that between 2019 and 2022, more than 10,000 medical visas have been issued to foreigners and the country is fast becoming the center of medical tourism in the world. He said the number is quite significant because there was an almost total ban on international travel during the pandemic. The minister also pointed out that India has nearly 600 globally and nationally accredited hospitals that provide world-class treatment in a cost-effective manner.
Jitendra Singh said the healthcare sector in India is expected to grow to a size of $50 billion by 2025, while the global medical tourism market is estimated to be around $72 billion. He said India’s share of medical tourism is expected to be around $10 billion by 2023. In addition, the country is the world’s largest supplier of generic drugs, the minister added.
Dr. Addressing the summit’s theme, “Building a Cohesive Healthcare Ecosystem in India through Proactive Government Initiatives”, Jitendra Singh pointed out that only last month, while inaugurating health facilities in Gujarat, Prime Minister Modi had said, “If the heart and purpose of the government is not filled with concern for people’s problems, then creating an appropriate health infrastructure is not possible”. The minister emphasized that the government’s intention and policy are in perfect harmony with the goal of creating affordable health care for all.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that since 2014, the Modi government has been trying to harness the enthusiasm of scientific brilliance to address the most pressing health challenges of the current generation and be future-ready. He said huge efforts are also being made to build a robust life sciences ecosystem through science and research, which will in turn reduce health inequities and create a clear roadmap for continued breakthroughs in vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. He said the action plan set by the government to support healthcare stakeholders to create a vibrant healthcare ecosystem in the country is through funding, incentives, government-industry-academia partnerships and incubation.
Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the world has recognized India’s leadership during COVID-19 as it has achieved the rare feat of providing more than 220 million vaccinations through a fully digital platform – COWIN and the process is ongoing. Emphasizing the importance of vaccines as one of the most cost-effective health interventions to combat infectious diseases, the Minister pointed out that during the pandemic, India played a vital role in the rapid development and global distribution of vaccines. He added what mechanisms are being developed to support comprehensive vaccine development and testing by strengthening engagement between industry, academia and government.
Dr Jitendra Singh said proactive government initiatives as suggested by the theme of the summit can best be illustrated as it was again Modi who launched StartUp India from the ramparts of the Red Fort in 2015 and today we have over 80,000 startups – up from 400 odd start-ups in 2014. He said that the prime minister’s special focus on science, technology and innovation has sparked the imagination of the country’s youth to innovate and solve problems with new ideas and we have startups emerging rapidly in these fields of IT, agriculture, aerospace , education, energy, healthcare and space.
Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that there are currently more than 4,000 health technology startups in India, ranging from platforms that help monitor health, apps that use artificial intelligence to detect illnesses and diseases, platforms that connect patients with doctors and hopes , that this ecosystem will grow. further and become the leading sector in the world.
Dr. Jitendra Singh concluded by saying that one cannot imagine India @2047 through the lens of 2022. He said that 8 years of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister gave India a vision for 2047 and laid a blueprint for the next 25 years of Amrita Kal which will witness the rise of India as a leading nation in the world for the best healthcare system.
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