As India charts its path toward a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, the healthcare sector is gearing up for some major transformations. Speaking at FICCI HEAL 2025, Health Minister JP Nadda said the conference theme, “Care @25 – Defining Moments in Healthcare”, couldn’t be more timely. “Our goal is equitable, accessible, and affordable healthcare for every citizen. Everyone—government, private sector, and stakeholders—must come together to make it happen,” he said.

Highlighting the success of Ayushman Bharat, Mr. Nadda shared some impressive numbers: the program now covers 62 crore people, over 40% of India’s population, with Rs 5 lakh health coverage per person.

“Even citizens over 70 are entitled to lifelong coverage,” he added. Plans are also afoot to expand Jan Aushadhi Kendras from 16,000 to 25,000 outlets, making medicines more affordable and helping reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs, which have already dropped from 62.6% to 39.4%.

When it comes to medical infrastructure, the Minister painted a clear picture: India will need 20 lakh hospital beds and 2 beds per 1,000 people to meet future demands. He also highlighted the growth in medical education—from 387 to 810 medical colleges, with undergraduate seats rising from 51,000 to 1,25,000. Over the next five years, 75,000 more UG seats will be added, while postgraduate seats now total 76,000. “As we increase numbers, we must ensure quality is never compromised,” he stressed.

The Minister also pointed to India’s digital healthcare revolution, with platforms like eSanjeevani connecting patients to doctors remotely. On funding, he noted that while the government spends 1.8% of GDP on health, states need to step up to fully utilize available resources. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to deregulate hospital beds, a step needed to meet rising healthcare demands.

Prof. VK Paul of NITI Aayog added a long-term perspective. “Our healthcare vision goes hand in hand with becoming a $30 trillion economy. But we also aim to raise life expectancy from 71 to 85 years and healthy life expectancy from 60 to 70–75 years. That’s what developed nations have achieved—and that’s what we should aim for.”

He also stressed the importance of home care services and family medicine, urging private hospitals to consider this approach for more comprehensive care.

FICCI leaders highlighted other key developments. Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, FICCI President, said that recent GST reforms cutting taxes on medicines and medical devices from 12–18% to just 5% have made healthcare more affordable for millions. Dr. Harsh Mahajan highlighted India’s focus on innovation, digital health, and AI to deliver personalized, preventive care at every level.

Finally, Varun Khanna, Co-Chair of FICCI Health Services Committee, reminded the audience that India’s healthcare system is talent-driven, with plans to add one million doctors over the next seven years. “Today, we are the largest health workforce in Asia,” he said.

With these discussions, FICCI HEAL 2025 set a forward-looking agenda, showing that India is not just expanding healthcare access but also embracing innovation, infrastructure, and talent development to ensure a healthier future for all.