From silos to solutions- a case of the health sector

A healthy India is the cornerstone of a prosperous and developed India. Over the last four years, our Government worked tirelessly and determinately towards transforming the health sector. Our endeavour is to ensure that the middle class, neo-middle class and poor have access to quality and affordable healthcare.

It is said in corporate circles, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” Going a step further, we in the Government of India are following the tenet- Measure to manage and manage to create a mass movement!

By mass movement, I refer to all stakeholders working in sync to create a positive difference. In this context, let me share with you the case of our health sector.

Guided by a multi-sectoral approach, we are focusing on four primary pillars:

Let me begin by talking about preventive health. This is not only the easiest but also the most affordable means to remain healthy.

Our aim to make India cleaner is connected with our focus on preventive health. In 2014, if 6.5 crore homes had toilets, the number stands at 13 crore today! Sanitation coverage has risen from 38% to 78%. The message of cleanliness has gone to every home and it is the youth of India that is taking the lead in making the Swachh Bharat Mission a success.

Our Government’s repeated emphasis on Yoga is linked with preventive healthcare too. I also urge you all to practice Yoga in the midst of your busy schedules. You will see the change it will bring in your lives.

In this year’s Budget, the Government has given a push to wellness centres and we want every Panchayat to have a wellness centre to cater to the needs of the people.

The second pillar is affordable healthcare. The Government of India has left no stone unturned in making access to good healthcare as affordable as possible.

In this regard, we ensured that the Health Minister and the Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers work in tandem. Over 3000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the length and breadth of India, which is making about 800 medicines significantly cheaper.

Today, heart stents are cheaper by about 85% and the cost of knee replacement surgeries has come down by 50 to 70%.

History was created during this Budget when the Ayushman Bharat Yojana was announced. It was never believed that India would have a full-fledged healthcare programme but with the coming of Ayushman Bharat, the health sector will witness major changes. The poorest of the poor will now get access to proper and affordable healthcare. The initiative is likely to impact about 50 crore Indians.

As far as supply side interventions are concerned, the Government of India fully realizes that issue of shortage of doctors and that is why are have substantially increased seats in the medical stream. In 2014, there were 52,000 UG and 30,000 PG seats in the medical stream. Today the number stands at 85,000 and 46,000 respectively.

The proactive efforts to improve human resources in nursing and paramedical streams will help patients as well as youngsters seeking opportunities.

Mission mode intervention is the fourth important pillar of how the health sector is being transformed. We can no longer wait as far as creating a healthy nation is concerned and thus, working in mission mode is the need of the hour.

To ensure the wellbeing of women and children, initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana are being actively implemented.

On International Women’s Day, the Poshan Abhiyaan was launched to ensure no woman or child suffers from malnutrition.

While the world is talking about eliminating TB by 2030, we in India have committed to eliminate the disease by 2025 itself! I have faith in the people of India and the skills of those associated with the medical profession.

Like many other sectors, working in silos was affecting the health sector and thus denying access to good healthcare. We have changed this and integrated various ministries to work towards a common goal- of a healthy India.

Thus, in the last four years, we have moved from silos to solutions, integrated various stakeholders and are poised towards creating a Swastha Bharat!