New Delhi: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, addressing the 2nd “Healthcare Summit” of the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM) at Hotel Taj, emphasized the critical role of advanced technology in making healthcare accessible and affordable in India.
Dr. Singh, who holds multiple portfolios including Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, lauded AMCHAM for organizing the pivotal summit focused on healthcare. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to articulate the Government’s vision for healthcare, a domain close to his heart as a renowned endocrinologist with a three-decade career in medicine.
The Minister highlighted India’s stature as one of the top six bio-manufacturers globally, known for cost-effective and efficacy-based bio-manufacturing. He underscored the theme of the summit, ‘Accelerating Innovative and Accessible Healthcare: Technology Transformation,’ as highly relevant to India’s contemporary health challenges and the government’s efforts towards ensuring affordable healthcare for all.
Speaking on India’s recent healthcare transformations, Dr. Jitendra Singh praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a healthy India, emphasizing the elimination of communicable diseases and the reduction in non-communicable diseases. He noted India’s successful execution of the world’s largest vaccination drive during the COVID-19 pandemic, affirming the government’s commitment to accessible healthcare as a fundamental right for every citizen.
“Gone are the days when medical tourism meant traveling abroad; India has now emerged as a global hub for healthcare, renowned for preventive healthcare and advanced medical facilities,” Dr. Singh asserted. He highlighted key government initiatives such as the Ayushman Card for cashless medical treatments, the Digital Healthcare Mission, and the integration of traditional medical systems like Ayush with mainstream healthcare.
Dr. Singh stressed the pivotal role of technology in democratizing healthcare access, citing examples of Telemedicine that have revolutionized healthcare delivery even in remote areas like Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized the importance of public-private partnership in advancing healthcare infrastructure, noting significant private investments in sectors like Space, which have seen exponential growth and boosted startup numbers.
The Minister commended the Department of Biotechnology for fostering research and development in translational health sciences, leading to significant growth in bio-manufacturing capabilities and pharmaceutical exports. He highlighted India’s pivotal role in global pharmaceutical supply chains, supplying a substantial proportion of prescriptions filled in the U.S.
The summit saw participation from key industry leaders including Ranjana Khanna, Director General, CEO AMCHAM; Som Satsangi, Chairman, AMCHAM & Senior Vice President and MD, India Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India; Madan Krishnan, Vice President and Managing Director India Subcontinent, Boston Scientific; and Chaitanya Sarawate, Managing Director Wipro GE Healthcare.