Government Initiatives

Some of the major initiatives taken by the Government of India to promote the Indian healthcare industry are as follows:

• In 2021, the Universal Health Care Bill was introduced in India to provide quality healthcare for all citizens, regardless of socio-economic status. It aims to promote preventive care, integrate primary healthcare into existing government schemes, and establish transparency and accountability in the healthcare system.
• India's Union Budget 2024-25 emphasizes transforming the healthcare sector through increased digital infrastructure and a revised health expenditure of Rs. 89,287 crores (US$ 10.70 billion), aiming to enhance accessibility and innovation in healthcare services.
• Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav and Mrs. Anupriya Singh Patel, recently unveiled three key initiatives at the Ayushman Bharat, Quality Health event. These initiatives aim to enhance healthcare quality and facilitate ease of doing business in India, including a virtual NQAS assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, an IPHS compliance dashboard for real-time monitoring of public health facilities, and a spot food licence initiative for food vendors.
• Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, virtually launched 'MedTech Mitra,' a platform designed to support young Indian innovators in the MedTech sector by aiding in their research, development, and regulatory approvals, aiming to reduce import dependence and transform India into a leading US$ 50 billion MedTech industry by 2030, while fostering indigenous development of affordable, quality medical devices and diagnostics, in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• PoshanAbhiyan is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the implementation of the scheme being done by States/UTs. To ensure that all Anganwadi Centres are equipped with Smartphones and Growth Monitoring devices (GMDs) such as Infantometer, Stadiometers, and Weighing Scale for Mothers and Infant, the Ministry has released revised guidelines for technical specifications and replacement of GMDs by the States.
• In the Union Budget 2023-24:
  • On February 25, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a significant stride in India's healthcare landscape by inaugurating five new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across different states. These AIIMS facilities, situated in Rajkot (Gujarat), Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal), and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), signify a transformative step towards bolstering tertiary healthcare infrastructure.
  • On January 18, 2024, the Union Cabinet was briefed on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between CDSCO, India, and ARCSA, Ecuador, fostering cooperation in medical product regulation, enhancing international coordination, and potentially boosting India's pharmaceutical exports.
  • On November 8, 2023, India and Netherlands inked a significant Memorandum of Intent in The Hague, aiming to bolster cooperation on medical product regulation, thereby elevating the quality of healthcare services for both nations.
  • Under the Interim Union Budget 2024-25, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been allocated Rs. 90,659 crore (US$ 10.93 billion), an increase of 1.69% compared to Rs. 89,155 crore (US$ 10.75 billion) in 2023-24.
  • Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) was allocated Rs. 2,400 crore (US$ 0.29 billion).
  • Human Resources for Health and Medical Education was allotted Rs. 5,016 crore (US$ 0.60 billion).
  • National Health Mission was allotted Rs. 38,183 crore (US$ 4.60 billion).
  • Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was allotted Rs. 7,500 crore (US$ 0.90 billion).

• In July 2022, the World Bank approved a US$ 1 billion loan towards India's Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.
• To promote medical tourism in the country, the government of India is extending the e-medical visa facility to the citizens of 156 countries.
• In May 2022, the Union Government approved grants for five new medical colleges in Gujarat with a grant of Rs. 190 crore (US$ 23.78 million) each. These colleges will come up in Navsari, Porbandar, Rajpipla, Godhra and Morbi.
• In November 2021, the Government of India, the Government of Meghalaya, and the World Bank signed a US$ 40 million health project for the state of Meghalaya. The project will improve the quality of health services and strengthen the state’s capacity to handle future health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In September 2021, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. The mission will connect the digital health solutions of hospitals across the country. Under this, every citizen will now get a digital health ID and their health record will be digitally protected.
• In September 2021, the Telangana government, in a joint initiative with World Economic Forum, NITI Aayog and HealthNet Global (Apollo Hospitals), launched the ‘Medicine from the Sky’ project. The project will pave the way for drone delivery of life-saving medicines and jabs in far-flung regions of the country.
• According to a spokesperson, the Indian government is planning to introduce a credit incentive programme worth Rs. 50,000 crore (US$ 6.8 billion) to boost the country’s healthcare infrastructure. The programme will allow firms to leverage the fund to expand hospital capacity or medical supplies with the government acting as a guarantor and strengthening COVID-19-related health infrastructure in smaller towns.
• In July 2021, the Ministry of Tourism established the ‘National Medical & Wellness Tourism Board’ to promote medical and wellness tourism in India.
• In July 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the National Ayush Mission, responsible for the development of traditional medicines in India, as a centrally sponsored scheme until 2026.
• In July 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the MoU between India and Denmark on cooperation in health and medicine. The agreement will focus on joint initiatives and technology development in the health sector, to improve the public health status of the population of both countries.
• In June 2021, the Ministry of Health, and Family Welfare, in partnership with UNICEF, held a capacity-building workshop for media professionals and health correspondents in Northeastern states on the current COVID-19 situation in India, to bust myths regarding COVID-19 vaccines & vaccination and reinforce the importance of COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour (CAB).