India’s Swasth Bharat mission hinges
on effective use of AI-led solutions
A key aspect of healthcare transformation includes India’s goal to advance life expectancy, with a target to increase the average lifespan from 71 years to over 85 years by 2047
As India sets its sights on becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ or a developed nation by 2047, the healthcare sector stands as a critical pillar in realising this vision, according to Prof V K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog.
Prof Paul highlighted the Government’s commitment to revitalising the primary healthcare infrastructure, which he sees as foundational for India’s transformation into a robust, developed economy.
He outlined an ambitious trajectory for India’s economic growth, forecasting a rise in per capita income from the current $2,500 to $18,000 and projecting an economy valued at $32 trillion by 2047. Achieving these milestones will require a resilient healthcare system designed to support a healthier, more prosperous nation.
“This is about creating a resilient healthcare system for a ‘Swasth Bharat, Viksit Bharat’ (Healthy India, Developed India),” Prof Paul remarked, emphasising that healthcare must be a leading force for national development.
A key aspect of this transformation includes India’s goal to advance life expectancy, with a target to increase the average lifespan from 71 years to over 85 years by 2047.
Recognising the transformative potential of technology, Prof Paul stressed India’s ambition to lead in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within healthcare.
Not only does India seek to be a primary consumer of AI-driven health solutions, but also an innovator, with a call for the development of validated AI applications that meet the highest standards of quality and safety in healthcare.
India’s healthcare sector has undergone significant transformations marked by advancements in infrastructure, technology, and accessibility. This journey towards enhancing public health has been propelled by focused efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a commitment to bolstering healthcare infrastructure.
Strategic Government-led initiatives like the National Health Policy, which aims to shape the country’s health systems, the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), providing a sum insured of INR 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 104 million beneficiary families, and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, aiming to develop an integrated and interoperable digital health infrastructure, have played a pivotal role in shaping the healthcare landscape.
Digital healthcare initiatives such as CoWIN, e-Sanjeevani, Arogya Setu, e-Hospital, etc. have accelerated progress, enhancing healthcare accessibility and delivery. These initiatives aim to build robust healthcare ecosystem and ensure healthcare reaches every doorstep.
As India marches towards its healthcare vision for 2047, key imperatives include increasing the number of qualified doctors and nurses to more than five million and 12.5 to 15 million, respectively, says an EY-Ficci report.
India also aims at expanding hospital bed capacity by adding three million more beds, achieving 100 per cent health insurance coverage, establishing one medical college in every district, and accelerating digitally enabled healthcare access.
Driven by visionary leadership, strategic initiatives, and collaborative efforts, India’s healthcare sector has made significant strides towards the goal of Viksit Bharat.