Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 14 June highlighted the sweeping transformation of India's healthcare sector over the past 12 years, underscoring government efforts to make quality medical care more affordable and accessible — particularly for the country's most vulnerable citizens. Modi pointed to milestones ranging from a doubling of medical colleges to the launch of the world's largest health insurance programme as evidence of a structurally stronger public health system.

Medical Education: Doubling Down on Doctors

A stronger healthcare system begins with more doctors and wider access to medical education. According to data shared by MyGov, the citizen engagement platform of the Union government, the number of medical colleges in India has more than doubled over the past decade — rising from under 1,000 to over 2,000. MBBS seats expanded from 50,000 to more than 1.28 lakh, while postgraduate medical seats grew from 32,000 to over 85,000. This expansion is widely seen as a foundational shift in the country's capacity to train and deploy healthcare professionals at scale.

Ayushman Bharat and Universal Health Coverage

At the centre of the government's healthcare agenda is Ayushman Bharat, described as the world's largest health insurance programme. The scheme has extended coverage to the most economically vulnerable sections of the population, providing access to quality hospitalisation that was previously out of reach for millions. Modi reaffirmed the government's commitment to building on this foundation as part of a broader vision for a Healthy India.

Disease Elimination: TB, Trachoma, and Malaria

India has made measurable progress against several historically entrenched diseases. The fight against Tuberculosis (TB) has accelerated through early detection, wider screening, improved treatment access, and community participation, advancing the country's goal of becoming TB-free. Separately, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared India a trachoma-free nation — a significant public health milestone. Malaria, too, is reportedly heading towards elimination, according to government data.

Covid Vaccination, Indigenous Tech, and Biopharma

India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic drew global attention for its speed and scale. The domestic vaccination drive was powered in part by indigenously developed vaccines, reinforcing the country's self-reliance in medical innovation. On the technology front, a homegrown MRI machine has reduced diagnostic costs, while an indigenous CAR-T cell therapy has provided a new avenue in cancer treatment. India's pharmaceutical ecosystem — long known as the 'Pharmacy of the World' — is now positioning itself as a global hub for biopharma and biotechnology, backed by more than 11,800 biotech startups.

HPV Vaccination and Preventive Healthcare

The Union government has also advanced its preventive healthcare agenda with the rollout of the HPV vaccination programme for young girls, aimed at protecting them from cervical cancer. With this, India has joined more than 160 countries that have launched national HPV vaccination drives. Officials have described the rollout as a war-footing campaign, signalling the priority accorded to women's health in the government's public health strategy.

As India marks 12 years of these healthcare reforms, the government has indicated that expanding coverage, deepening indigenous medical innovation, and completing disease elimination targets remain the key priorities for the years ahead.