President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday called for a collective, mission-driven effort to ensure affordable, world-class healthcare for all citizens, underscoring that quality medical access is central to nation-building.
She made the remarks at the inauguration of the nationwide campaign, ‘Saving Lives and Building a Healthier Bharat’, organised by PD Hinduja Hospital at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.
Highlighting the Centre’s health reforms over the past decade, the President outlined the government’s expansion of healthcare access through structural and financial interventions. More than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are currently delivering primary healthcare services across the country.
Under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, regarded as the world’s largest government-funded health insurance programme, nearly 12 crore families receive annual health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family for hospitalisation.
She also referred to national public health initiatives such as Mission Indradhanush, the TB-Free India campaign, and the Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission as key measures aimed at protecting citizens from preventable diseases.
To strengthen human resources in the health sector, the number of MBBS and postgraduate medical seats has been increased, while new AIIMS institutions and medical colleges have been established across several states to expand access to quality medical education and services. These measures, she noted, are yielding positive outcomes.
Stressing that healthcare delivery cannot rely solely on government intervention, the President emphasised the need for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure quality services reach every citizen. The ‘Saving Lives and Building a Healthier Bharat’ campaign was described as one such collaborative effort.
On emergency care, she highlighted the critical importance of timely medical intervention during the golden hour in accident and medical emergency cases. Under the PM Relief Scheme, accident victims are eligible for cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh to prevent loss of life due to lack of immediate medical assistance. Strengthening ambulance networks and trauma centres, along with raising public awareness, was identified as essential to improving survival outcomes.
Reiterating that healthy citizens form the foundation of a strong nation, the President linked timely access to quality healthcare with the broader goal of achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047. She described healthcare as a collective responsibility and stressed the need to ensure that even the most vulnerable populations receive proper and timely treatment.
She also pointed to the expanding role of technology and artificial intelligence in healthcare delivery, noting that their relevance will continue to grow. The government is fostering an innovation-friendly ecosystem through initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission to support AI-enabled healthcare solutions.
While noting that India is a leading pharmaceutical producer whose medicines contribute significantly to global treatment, she observed that dependence on imports for certain medical devices and critical medicines continues to place a financial burden on citizens. Expanding domestic manufacturing through initiatives such as Make in India and production-linked incentive schemes was identified as key to ensuring affordability. The medical fraternity and business community were encouraged to promote research, innovation and start-ups in the sector.
The President expressed confidence that coordinated efforts across sectors would strengthen universal access to quality healthcare and enhance India’s position as a global healthcare destination.
