President Droupadi Murmu has called for a stronger national commitment to affordable, accessible, and equitable healthcare, stressing that quality medical treatment must reach every citizen regardless of income or geography. Addressing a gathering of healthcare professionals and policymakers, the President emphasized that healthcare should be viewed as a fundamental pillar of social justice and national development rather than a privilege linked to wealth. Highlighting the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, rising treatment costs, and disparities between urban and rural healthcare access, she underscored the need to strengthen public health infrastructure at the district and primary levels. She urged greater investment in preventive healthcare, early diagnosis, digital health systems, and community-based services to reduce long-term costs and improve health outcomes.
President Murmu also pointed to the importance of innovation and technology in delivering affordable care. She encouraged the development of indigenous medical devices, low-cost diagnostic tools, and digital platforms that can expand access to specialist consultation in remote areas. At the same time, she stressed that technological advancement must go hand in hand with affordability, so that advanced treatment does not remain confined to metropolitan centres.
Referring to government initiatives aimed at expanding health coverage, the President noted that universal access to healthcare requires coordinated efforts between the Centre, states, private sector, and civil society. She highlighted the role of public–private partnerships in enhancing hospital capacity, medical education, and research while maintaining a strong focus on patient welfare.
Emphasizing preventive care, she advocated for lifestyle awareness, nutrition, sanitation, and vaccination as essential components of a sustainable healthcare system. Reducing the disease burden through prevention, she noted, is crucial to making healthcare more affordable and less financially stressful for families.In her concluding remarks, President Murmu reiterated that affordable healthcare is central to building a healthy and productive nation. She called upon medical institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders to work collectively toward a system where access to quality treatment is not determined by economic status but ensured as a shared national commitment.
