Health Minister JP Nadda emphasized on April 30 that collaboration between public and private sectors is essential for India to achieve self-reliance in healthcare. “To realize the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, public-private partnerships (PPP) are vital. We are expanding the number of government healthcare institutions through PPP while the private sector continues to play a key role,” he stated.
Speaking at the inauguration of Max Super Speciality Hospital, the minister highlighted that India is making remarkable progress in critical health indicators such as Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), and under-five mortality rate with reductions that are more than twice the global average.
He noted that the National Health Policy 2017 has paved the way for an inclusive and comprehensive healthcare system. “Previously, the focus was mainly on curative care. Now, the government is working to provide a complete spectrum of healthcare preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative. On the preventive front, we are conducting screenings for people aged 30 and above for cancers (oral, breast, cervical), hypertension, diabetes, and mental health conditions,” Nadda added.
Citing a recent Lancet study, he pointed out that access to timely cancer treatment has improved by 90% for individuals covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
The minister also noted the significant growth in medical education, with a sharp rise in medical colleges and MBBS seats over the past 11 years. He added that the government is now focusing on promoting medical value tourism. “We have extended the e-visa facility for medical treatment to citizens of 167 countries. Additionally, the ‘Heal in India’ initiative received a boost in the latest Union Budget,” Nadda said.
