India’s healthcare policy shifts from ‘sick care’ to ‘wellness’: Anupriya Patel

PUDUCHERRY: Union minister of state for health and family welfare and chemicals and fertilisers Anupriya Patel said India, after a long gap of one and a half decades, now has a new national health policy, which marks a decisive shift from ‘sick care’ to ‘wellness.’

Addressing the 14th convocation ceremony of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) on Tuesday, she said healthcare was no longer limited to curing disease as it now encompasses ‘preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care’, forming a comprehensive and holistic approach. “The objective is universal health coverage, ensuring quality healthcare for every citizen,” she said.

She admitted that delivering affordable and quality healthcare to a population of over 1.46 billion was undoubtedly a formidable challenge. She said the Union govt, nevertheless, was making determined efforts to translate universal health coverage from policy into reality. She pointed out that schemes such as free drugs and diagnostics, and the national dialysis programme, have significantly reduced the financial burden on patients.

She said a flagship initiative in this journey was the world’s largest health insurance scheme, currently providing financial protection to over 62 crore citizens. “This scheme has brought immense relief to poor and marginalised families, the elderly, front-line health workers, and gig workers, enabling timely access to secondary and tertiary healthcare without fear of financial distress,” she said.

She said the Union govt has also undertaken a robust expansion of medical education infrastructure. “New medical colleges, nursing colleges, and AIIMS institutions are being established across the country. By expanding infrastructure, the Union govt aims to fulfil the aspirations of students from poor and middle-class families and strengthen India’s future healthcare workforce. These reforms are designed to bridge regional disparities, improve the doctor-patient ratio, and address the complex geographical, social, and cultural diversity of our nation,” she said.