- The article discusses India’s potential to lead in global health governance following the US withdrawal from the WHO.
- Emphasizes India’s growing contributions in health innovation, particularly in traditional medicine and digital health.
Key Achievements of India in Healthcare
- Democratization of Healthcare:
- Ayushman Bharat: Launched in 2018, it covers over 36 crore beneficiaries, ensuring free hospitalization for the poor.
- Resulted in a 21% reduction in out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures.
- Vaccine Coverage:
- Successful immunization campaigns have eliminated polio and neonatal tetanus.
- Nearly 97% of eligible beneficiaries have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
- Strengthening Rural Healthcare:
- 1.72 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs operational, providing essential healthcare services in rural areas.
- Health Digitization:
- The National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) enables electronic health records and telemedicine, significantly reducing patient wait times.
- Focus on Traditional Medicine:
- The AYUSH sector has grown by 17% annually, contributing $18 billion to the economy.
- Innovative Health Financing:
- Public health expenditure reached 2.1% of GDP in FY23, up from 1.6% in FY21.
- Decentralized Health Governance:
- Localized models like Kerala’s participatory health programs emphasize accountability and citizen-centric healthcare.
Challenges in Global Health Governance
- Insufficient Health Expenditure:
- India’s public health expenditure is below the WHO’s recommendation of 5%, impacting infrastructure and research.
- Weak R&D in Healthcare:
- India’s R&D funding is low at 0.64% of GDP, limiting innovation in medical research.
- Fragmented Regulatory Framework:
- Inefficiencies in drug approval processes and public health responses highlighted by incidents like the cough syrup controversy.
- Disparities in Health Infrastructure:
- Significant regional imbalances in healthcare facilities affect equitable health crisis management.
- Pandemic Preparedness:
- Gaps in surveillance and coordination hinder effective responses to health crises, as reflected in India’s ranking in the Global Health Security Index.
- Dual Burden of Diseases:
- Increasing prevalence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases complicates health leadership efforts.
- Dependence on Generic Drug Manufacturing:
- While India is known as the “pharmacy of the world,” its focus on generics limits innovation in new medicines.
- Global Health Diplomacy Gaps:
- Inconsistent global health outreach undermines India’s leadership potential.
- Environmental Health Challenges:
- Poor air and water quality damage India’s credibility in addressing environmental health determinants.
- Brain Drain:
- Migration of skilled health professionals to developed countries limits India’s capacity for global health leadership.
Opportunities for India
- Strengthening R&D in Health Innovation:
- Increase investment in R&D for medical technologies and indigenous vaccines.
- Leveraging Digital Health:
- Expand the NDHM to improve accessibility and promote telemedicine services.
- Integrating AYUSH with Modern Medicine:
- Promote traditional medicine systems globally and increase funding for research.
- Expanding Vaccine and Medicine Reach:
- Enhance vaccine diplomacy initiatives and collaborate with developing nations.
- Improving Health Infrastructure:
- Invest in health infrastructure and create international partnerships for hospital management.
- Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):
- Strengthen surveillance mechanisms and promote responsible antibiotic use.
- Promoting Global Health Diplomacy:
- Use Ayushman Bharat as a model for Universal Health Coverage in developing nations.
- Tackling Climate Change and Health:
- Link climate action with public health initiatives to improve resilience.
- Focusing on Women’s and Children’s Health:
- Champion programs for maternal and child health to reduce mortality rates.
- Combining Swachh Bharat and Health Initiatives:
- Link sanitation programs with health outcomes to improve public health.
Way Forward
India has the potential to emerge as a global health leader by leveraging its achievements in vaccine diplomacy, digital health, and traditional medicine. Addressing critical gaps in health expenditure, infrastructure, and research is essential for sustainable and inclusive global health governance.
Services-led Growth Model for India’s Sustainable Economic Development
Context
The global economic uncertainties prompt India to transition from traditional manufacturing-based growth to modern services-based growth. Services development assumes a vital position to promote sustainable economic growth by promoting foreign investments as well as generating job positions.
Evolution of the Services Sector in India
Pre-Independence Era (Before 1947)
Basic needs together with colonial administration made up the limited extent of service provision during that period.
British initiatives resulted in railroad construction and postal services establishment as part of infrastructure development.
Post-Independence and Early Decades (1947–1980s)
During this period the government made public service expansion such as education and healthcare part of their developmental plans.
The services sector maintained a minimal contribution of about 30% to GDP through low-productivity services.
Economic Liberalization (1991 Onwards)
Liberalization reforms set off a strong growth pattern that digitized information technology together with IT-enabled services (ITES).
Two global leader companies emerged from India during the BPO and KPO growth period: Infosys and TCS.
Current Trends (2000s Onwards)
Services constitute 55-60% of the GDP but constitute only 32% of the total workforce in the Indian economy.
• Diverse Sub-Sectors:
The global economy considers India to be a foremost force in digital services and Information Technology.
o E-Commerce and Healthcare: Rapid growth in retail and medical tourism.
Potential of Services-led Growth
Job Creation
• IT and Digital Platforms: Major employment generators.
• Example: The IT-BPM sector employs 5.4 million professionals.
Global Leadership
In 2023-24 India achieved $245 billion worth of IT revenues.
Urban and Rural Development
Under the Smart Cities initiative smart services function as an urban infrastructure solution to handle emerging urbanization problems.
Digital services create better opportunities for people living in rural areas to access healthcare and education facilities.
Sustainability and Financial Inclusion
• Green Services: Emphasis on green finance and renewable energy.
FinTech solutions enhance financial institution accessibility which leads to reduced inequality among people.
Service Exports
• Critical for offsetting trade deficits.
• Service exports surged by 26.6% in FY23.
Challenges of Service-Led Growth
Employment and Regional Disparities
• Jobless Growth: High GDP contribution but limited large-scale employment.
The growth pattern has become uneven because it focuses mainly on urban centers which deepens the poverty level in rural areas.
Economic and Structural Issues
• Dependence on External Markets: Vulnerable to global economic fluctuations.
The shortage of skills among workers becomes a major issue because their qualifications do not match with industry requirements.
• Urban Congestion: Overcrowding and infrastructure strain in major cities.
Workers in the informal economy surpass 90 percent and fail to receive social benefits.
• Low Domestic Consumption: Heavy reliance on exports due to low income levels.
Strategies for Sustainable Growth
Workforce and Infrastructure Development
The training curriculum should match the requirements of enterprises.
• Smart Infrastructure: Build connectivity between rural and urban economies.
The country needs to support research along with innovation through various strategic programs to enhance services and manufacturing development.
Implementation of technology helps organizations establish digital supply chains to optimize business processes.
Sector-Specific Strategies
• Agro-Processing Hubs: Integrate agriculture with logistics and digital services.
• MSME Support: Strengthen small businesses through digital ecosystems.
• FinTech for Agriculture: Enhance credit access for rural enterprises.
The promotion of sustainable tourism through this strategy will generate employment opportunities in the rural areas.
Manufacturing industries should obtain support from renewable energy resources to operate sustainably.
Social Inclusion and Empowerment
The availability of education together with credit facilities should be improved for female empowerment.
India’s Role in Global Health Governance
Key Achievements in Healthcare
Democratization of Healthcare
Through Ayushman Bharat which started in 2018 over 36 crore beneficiaries receive free hospitalization benefits for the poor.
The healthcare expenditure reduction reached 21% due to this program.
Vaccine Coverage
The successful vaccination drives removed both the diseases of neonatal tetanus and polio completely from the population.
The vaccination campaign for eligible beneficiaries generated a high success rate of 97% regarding dose delivery.
Strengthening Rural Healthcare
The healthcare services provided in rural areas through 1.72 lakh operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs benefit local communities.
Health Digitization
Telemedicine accessibility through the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) along with electronic health records functions to decrease waiting times for patients.
Traditional Medicine
•17% annual growth rate in AYUSH sector, contributing $18 billion to the economy
Challenges in Global Health Governance
•Low public health expenditure, 2.1% of GDP – lower than WHO’s minimum 5%.
•Weak R&D in healthcare constitutes only 0.64% of GDP.
•Regulatory framework is fragmented.
•Health infrastructure disequilibrium and gaps in pandemic preparedness.
India’s Opportunities:
•R&D in medical innovations and indigenous vaccines.
•Expansion of digital health infrastructure through NDHM.
•Leverage AYUSH globally and increase funding.
•Vaccine diplomacy and global partnerships.
•Combating antimicrobial resistance as well as climate-linked health challenges.
•Universal health coverage with the Ayushman Bharat model.
Conclusion
•Services-led Growth as a road to Sustainable Development: Followed by SDGs.
•Balanced approach: Synthesizing services, agriculture, manufacturing, and global health leadership for comprehensive growth and development.