80 crore Indians with no health coverage, govt hospitals overburdened: Experts

New Delhi: The Healthcare Changemakers Conclave-2023 organized by HEAL Foundation celebrated and felicitated the Healthcare Changemakers recently. Doctor Couple Changemakers Awards coined by the organizers of the Healthcare Changemakers Conclave turned out to be unique and India’s first of its kind.

While addressing the award ceremony at Healthcare Changemakers Conclave, Chief Guest, Meenakshi Lekhi, MoS, External Affairs and Culture of India said, “Organizing such a conclave to bring together changemakers at one platform and conferring awards is a unique initiative. During COVID, our Healthcare Changemakers did a wonderful job at the risk of their own lives and saved the lives of the people. India has been consistently strengthening its healthcare systems as the number of AIIMS has almost doubled, and after COVID, there are viral testing labs in every district of India. What is noteworthy is that, earlier, India had doctors and healthcare infrastructure but we did not have Ayushman Bharat – a unique initiative by the present government to ensure that a common man gets healthcare accessibility.”

The Guest of Honour at the award ceremony, C K Mishra, Former Secretary for Health Environment, Forests and Climate Change said, “Changemaker is a catchword, and the awards being conferred here are not symbolic of the excellent work people have done, but the awards are for the ‘change’ they have brought in their respective fields. And today, where the healthcare industry in India stands, if we do not constantly strive to make it better, we do not think we will go far away. With your efforts and government policy-making platforms, if we can get accessibility, affordability, and quality, and I add equity, then we will achieve the ‘Wellness of every citizen of the country.’ Thus, Changemaking is the only solution to building a strong, robust healthcare system. Now, it is the time to celebrate ‘Changemakers’ as it not only boosts their morale but also motivates others to do great things like them.”

While speaking at the conclave, Dr Upasana Arora, MD – Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals said, “It is high time that other countries are focusing on the environment, India has to take a big step and bring in change in attitudes and behaviours. To make the Indian healthcare ecosystem more scalable, affordable, accessible, and environment-friendly, we need to change our attitude. We need to make sustainable development. We are coming up with 1200-bedded and 300-bedded hospitals, and we are trying to make these two buildings green with the help of solar energy. Therefore, it is the responsibility of everyone to think sustainably.”

Speaking at the conclave on ESG: The New Imperative for Healthcare, Dr Jitendra Sharma, Founder & CEO – Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) said, “We all need to be cognisant about the changes being imposed on healthcare, dumped on healthcare and not necessarily constructive and viable for the country like India. So, we need to look at the changes. Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is the by-product of the other facilitatory policies that allow you to migrate towards ESG goals keeping the cost of your capital low, and at the same time helping you gain.”

While speaking in one of the interactive sessions at the conclave, Commander Navneet Bali, Regional Director – North, Narayana Health, said, “Despite progress and reforms, India still needs miles to go to ensure healthcare accessibility to a common man. Though Ayushman Bharat is in place, we need to do more to make healthcare delivery accessible to the common man. Still, approx., 80 crore Indians do not have any health coverage. And we have the highest out-of-pocket expenditure when we visit hospitals. There are government hospitals, which are overburdened, like AIIMS, KGMC and many more, where per day OPD patients are 18-25 thousand. And patients get long-standing appointments for a year, six months, or three months. So, technological intervention is the answer to the existing problems the Indian healthcare industry is grappling with.”

Speaking on the significance and essence of awards conferred to healthcare changemakers categorically, Dr Swadeep Srivastava, Founder – HEAL Foundation & Chairman, Organizing Committee – Healthcare Changemakers Conclave said, “Recognizing the sacrifices and compromises that doctor couples make in their daily personal lives while serving mankind, we coined Doctor Couple Award to honour their exemplary contribution to the healthcare landscape. This is a first-of-its-kind award being conferred to Doctor Couples. Another category of awards – Healthcare Changemakers comprised of doctors, healthcare industry leaders and health writers who have contributed optimally to making India’s healthcare ecosystem accessible, affordable, and robust.”