Address a post-budget webinar on ‘Health and medical research‘, Modi He said that the Indian health sector has been blighted for decades by a lack of an integrated approach and long-term vision, but his government has not limited it to just the ministry of health and has approached the issue from the perspective of “the whole government”.
India consistently seeks to ensure minimum foreign dependency in healthcare: PM Modi
Our entrepreneurs should ensure that India does not have to import any technology and becomes self-sufficient, he said, noting the various measures his government has taken to promote entrepreneurship in the sector.
The prime minister said making treatment affordable was a top priority, adding that ‘Ayushman Bharat’, a government health insurance scheme, and ‘Jan Aushadhi’ centres, where medicines are sold at cheaper prices, saved to citizens Rs 80,000 crore and Rs 20,000 crore respectively.
‘Ayushman Bharat’ & ‘Jan Aushadhi’ centers rescued Rs 1 lakh cr of citizens : PM Modi
The country’s pharmaceutical sector has gained global trust during the pandemic, Modi said, urging the sector to build and capitalize on trust.
The healthcare sector should be seen with a pre-Covid and post-Covid dividing line, he said, noting that the pandemic has shown that even the developed systems of prosperous countries are destroyed during such a crisis.
His government is not just focusing on health care but on the general well-being of citizens, he said.
India’s post-Covid approach is not limited to health care, but also well-being: PM Modi
Now critical health infrastructure is being brought into tier 2 cities and smaller households, leading to the development of a health ecosystem there, he said.
The government is also focusing on ensuring people get treatment, including testing facilities, close to their homes, he added.
