Dr. Arvind Kumar*
There are significant lessons that must be learned in order to navigate the future as the globe recovers from the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic brought with it. India is currently in charge of the G20, and as such, digital health innovation, achieving universal health coverage, and improving healthcare infrastructure and delivery will continue to be the key driving forces in 2023 along with the One Health approach. There is a strong economic case for One Health because the global estimate of prevention costs guided by One Health principles ranges from $10.3 billion to $11.5 billion per year, compared to the cost of managing pandemics which, according to the recent estimate by the G20 Joint Finance and Health Taskforce, amounts to about $30.1 billion per year. There has never been a better time to adopt One Health as an investment in humanity’s future. India has to use its presidency to design a model policy centered on primary healthcare system in order to contribute to universal, cheap, inclusive, and social healthcare and embed a One Health approach around the world.
When the pandemic first started, nations and international organisations (such as WHO) responded to the extraordinary disaster in the best way they know. With hindsight being 20/20, some conspicuous gaps emerged, particularly discrepancies in access to medications and, subsequently, vaccines. India has committed to becoming a developed nation by 2047. Overtaking Britain to become the fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP, it has showed remarkable economic growth in the past decade. However, the economy cannot be the only factor in a nation’s development. Evidence suggests that the majority of advanced countries spend more on healthcare.
A developed nation needs resilient, adaptable, and human-centered healthcare systems. With newly launched rules regulations and their schemes such as PLI, One Molecule, One price, Export boosting scheme and the nation’s pandemic management strategies served as an illustration of this change. When the need for oxygen increased during the second pandemic wave in 2021, India developed and put into service several oxygen systems throughout its healthcare institutions. To improve public health infrastructure, two major programmes are currently under way: the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission and the 15th Finance Commission health grants. By 2025–2026, 730 integrated public health laboratories and 7,225 block public health units will be built thanks to an expenditure of more than $1.2 billion.
The sector’s growth map
The Indian healthcare market, which was valued at $86 billion in 2016, is now projected to reach $367 billion by 2023 and $638 billion by 2025 as per INC42. India currently holds the fourth position in attracting VC funding to the health-tech sector, with investments of US$ 4.4 billion between 2016 and 2021, with US$ 1.9 invested in 2021 alone. As per government data, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is worth approximately $50 billion with over $25 billion of the value coming from exports. Between April -June 2022, FDI inflow for the drugs and pharmaceuticals sector stood at US$ 19.90 billion, according to the data released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. IDMA and the Indian government are actively working together on PLI 2.0. As a result, India will rely less on imports and its healthcare system will be more secure. India is transitioning from being the leading manufacturer of generic products to adding value. Also, a comprehensive policy framework should be developed for India that integrates intellectual property commercialization, government procurement, scientific research, education, and skill development, ease of doing business, and regulation legislation.
As per Economic Survey of 2022, India’s public expenditure on healthcare stood at 2.1% of GDP in 2021-22 against 1.8% in 2020-21 and 1.3% in 2019-20 and the Indian medical tourism market was valued at US$ 2.89 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach US$ 13.42 billion by 2026. According to India Tourism Statistics at a Glance 2020 report, close to 697,300 foreign tourists came for medical treatment in India in FY19. India has been ranked 10th in the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) for 2020-21 out of 46 destinations by the Medical Tourism Association.
India offers the world a lot. India helped the world by providing necessary medicines, supplies, and vaccines to many nations throughout the pandemic. India built the capacity to produce and provide vaccinations at competitive prices. The attendance of India’s main vaccine producers alongside their counterparts from developing nations at the recently held Annual General Meeting of the Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturer Network in Pune demonstrated the leadership that New Delhi is providing to the Global South.
By developing its digital health infrastructure and taking the lead in strategic debates about using artificial intelligence to advance public health, India has become a digital powerhouse. More than one billion people have downloaded the Aarogya Setu app, which was introduced as a contact-tracing tool for Covid-19. As part of the national government’s “Digital India” project, 638 e-Hospitals have been constructed across India. The number of tele-consultations conducted through the Health Ministry’s eSanjeevani telemedicine service exceeded 3 crore by 2022. Additionally, eSanjeevani telemedicine accomplished more than 1.7 lakh consultations in a single day, breaking a previous record.
How G20India can give fillip to healthcare industry?
In keeping with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’s vision, India provided more than 250 million doses of vaccine to more than 100 nations as part of the Vaccine Maitri initiative. The G20 agenda is remarkably inspired by India’s achievements in the healthcare sector as it shapes the outcomes of each of its three health tracks: One is the prevention, preparation, and response to health emergencies, with an emphasis on individual health and antibiotic resistance. Two, improving collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry with an emphasis on accessibility to availability of high-quality, safe, and reasonable medical counter measures (vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics). Third, innovations and solutions in digital health to support universal health coverage and enhance service provision.
Conclusion
We have learned from the pandemic that no one is safe until we are all safe. Therefore, the G20India occurs at a critical time. India will have the chance to influence the global health agenda and priorities. With the goal of facilitating a synergistic digital health agenda for policy, strategy, governance, finance, and solutions to attain universal health coverage, a future G20 collaborative project on digital health may be envisioned. Even while there is still much work to be done, India is setting the bar for other developing countries and assuming its proper place among those with people-centered, sustainable, and future-ready health systems.
*President, India Water Foundation
