NEW DELHI: Union health minister JP Nadda on Thursday said India’s healthcare transformation was not being constrained by a lack of funds but by how effectively states used them. Speaking at FICCI HEAL 2025, he urged the states to focus on efficient implementation and accountability to ensure that health spending translated into tangible results, achieving the “goal of equitable, affordable and accessible healthcare for all by 2047”.Speaking on the theme, ‘Care@25: Defining Moments in Healthcare’, Nadda said India was moving from a curative to a comprehensive healthcare model with greater emphasis on prevention, early detection and digital delivery. “If we want a healthy and developed India by 2047, we must move forward step by step with a clear roadmap,” he emphasised, adding that all stakeholders — policymakers, industry leaders and innovators — require to work together to achieve it. Underlining the importance of public-private collaboration, he said, “Platforms like FICCI HEAL enable policymakers, industry leaders and experts to come together and drive India’s healthcare transformation agenda.”Pointing out that the Centre has substantially increased allocations to the sector, Nadda said, “We can’t just push money down the drain. The focus must shift from availability of funds to the quality of spending and delivery.”The minister noted that under Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, Rs 86,000 crore had been released in the past five years to strengthen district hospitals, diagnostic networks and emergency care systems. “Some states are slow in submitting utilisation certificates and completing projects. That needs to change,” he stressed.Calling Ayushman Bharat a “revolutionary step towards universal health coverage”, Nadda said more than 62 crore Indians, over 40% of the population, are covered by the scheme, which provides Rs 5 lakh annual health coverage per family. “Even private insurers hesitate to cover people above 70, but Ayushman Bharat provides coverage till death for every senior citizen.” More than 32,900 hospitals are empanelled and the recent GST exemption on health insurance will make it more affordable.Nadda highlighted that India’s Mother and Child Tracking System was digitally monitoring every pregnancy and child, improving outcomes. Institutional deliveries have risen from 79% to nearly 90%, maternal mortality dropped from 130 to 88 per lakh live births and infant mortality fell from 39 to 27 per 1,000 live births. “This is how policy, technology and human effort together are saving lives.” In the fight against communicable diseases, tuberculosis incidence has fallen by nearly 18%, more than double the global average of 8.3%. Treatment coverage improved to 85% and India is close to eliminating kala-azar and received WHO certification for eliminating trachoma as a public health concern.Nadda also noted that India had 810 medical colleges compared to 387 a decade ago and 1.25 lakh undergraduate seats against 51,000. “We will require 20 lakh beds and two beds per 1,000 patients in the coming years if we are to match the Viksit Bharat vision.” Prof VK Paul, member (health) at NITI Aayog, said there was a need for more medical infrastructure alongside a focus on home care. “We must bring in the discipline of family medicine and private hospitals should also adopt it to offer comprehensive care.” Dr Harsh Mahajan, chair of FICCI Health Services Committee, said India was driving innovation through advanced medical technology, digital platforms and AI.FICCI president Harsha Vardhan Agarwal noted that recent GST reforms, reducing rates on medicines and medical devices, had made healthcare significantly more affordable.
