How Can We Make Health Accessible by Making It Affordable? - Mansukh Mandaviya
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Synopsis
In an impactful address at the World Health Summit, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized the need for affordable health care in India. He highlighted the importance of viewing health as a service rather than a business, ensuring access for every citizen, especially in light of past challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic.
Key Takeaways
- Health should be treated as a service.
- India is hosting the World Health Summit for the first time.
- Healthcare workers showed exceptional dedication during Covid-19.
- India aims to transition to a $30 trillion economy by 2047.
- Healthcare is central to India's development goals.
New Delhi, April 27 (NationPress) To make health accessible, it is essential to ensure it is affordable, which starts with viewing health as a service rather than a profit-driven venture, stated Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday.
Mandaviya expressed that while health may be seen as a business globally, in India, it is fundamentally a service, deeply embedded in our sanskaar.
He reminisced about the dedication shown by healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, who prioritized service over profit.
“During Covid, our healthcare workers truly represented this ethos. When healthcare is motivated by service rather than profit, it effectively reaches those in need,” Mandaviya remarked at the World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting 2025 held here.
Mandaviya, who also oversees Youth Affairs and Sports, emphasized that regarding health as a service is crucial for ensuring it is accessible to every citizen.
This is the first time India is hosting the World Health Summit, which centers around the theme 'Scaling Access to Ensure Health Equity' and seeks innovative, inclusive, and sustainable approaches to achieve universal health.
India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant referred to this era as “India’s health decade,” mentioning that as India evolves into a $30 trillion economy by 2047, enhancing human development and quality of life will be paramount.
“India will transition from a $4 trillion to a $30 trillion economy by 2047, with health playing a vital role in our growth. This is not just India’s digital decade; it’s India’s health decade,” he remarked.
Kant highlighted the initiatives aimed at creating a comprehensive, sustainable, and resilient health-tech ecosystem.
MP and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur expressed pride in India hosting the summit.
He pointed out that India has made remarkable progress in establishing a citizen-centric healthcare system, vital for the country's aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047.
“With a population exceeding 1.43 billion, India has taken bold steps to democratize healthcare, shifting from selective interventions to a citizen-focused model grounded in financial protection and primary care. As we strive for developed nation status by 2047, healthcare will continue to be pivotal to our progress,” Thakur concluded.
Point of View
It is crucial to recognize that the call for affordable healthcare resonates deeply with the aspirations of all Indians. By prioritizing health as a service, we align with the nation’s goal of achieving universal health equity, which is vital for our collective progress.
NationPress
31/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is affordable healthcare important?
Affordable healthcare is essential to ensure all citizens have access to necessary medical services, promoting overall public health and wellbeing.
What did Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya state about healthcare?
Dr. Mandaviya emphasized that healthcare should be viewed as a service, not a business, to effectively reach all citizens.
What is the theme of the World Health Summit?
The theme is 'Scaling Access to Ensure Health Equity,' focusing on innovative and inclusive methods to achieve health for all.
