THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 24, 2026
Emphasising that healthcare is central to nation-building and must reach
every section of society, President Droupadi Murmu today called for a united
effort by government, medical professionals, industry and civil society to
ensure that even the poorest citizens receive timely and quality medical care.
She was inaugurating the nationwide campaign “Saving Lives and Building a
Healthier Bharat,” organised by PD Hinduja Hospital at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.
The President noted that the Government of India has undertaken
transformative measures over the past decade to expand access to healthcare,
highlighting the network of over 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs delivering
primary services across the country and the Ayushman Bharat scheme providing
annual health coverage of ₹5 lakh to nearly 12 crore families. She said
national initiatives such as Mission Indradhanush, the TB-Free India campaign
and the Sickle Cell Anaemia
eradication mission are significantly strengthening disease prevention and
public health outcomes. The expansion of MBBS and postgraduate seats, along
with the establishment of new AIIMS and medical colleges in several states, is
improving the availability of quality doctors and paramedical professionals,
she added.
Stressing that saving a life is the greatest act of service, the
President underscored the importance of emergency care during the “golden
hour,” observing that timely medical intervention can prevent a majority of
fatalities in accidents and critical conditions. She referred to the Prime
Minister’s relief provisions that enable cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh
for accident victims, and said that alongside ambulances and trauma centres, public awareness and rapid response systems
are essential to saving lives.
Calling healthy citizens the foundation of a strong nation, the President
said that access to affordable, world-class healthcare must become a shared
national mission. She highlighted the growing role of technology and artificial
intelligence in healthcare delivery and said the IndiaAI Mission is creating an
enabling ecosystem for innovation, including AI-driven diagnostics and
treatment systems that can expand access and improve outcomes.
The President also pointed to India’s global standing as a leading
pharmaceutical producer, while noting the continued dependence on imports for
several medical devices and critical medicines, which increases costs for
ordinary citizens. She said initiatives such as Make in India and the
Production Linked Incentive scheme are vital for boosting domestic
manufacturing and reducing financial burdens, and urged the medical fraternity,
researchers and industry to promote innovation, start-ups and indigenous
technologies in the healthcare sector.
Reaffirming the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047,
the President said that a healthy population is indispensable to achieving this
national goal. She expressed confidence that through collective effort, India
will ensure timely and quality healthcare for all citizens while emerging as a
globally recognised healthcare destination.
