Events

FICCI and BDO India released a paper at FICCI HEAL 2024 titled “Expanding the Reach of Diagnostics: The Digital Advantage,” which examines the current landscape of India’s diagnostic industry and highlights the role of technology in shaping its future. The paper outlines emerging trends, challenges, and key recommendations for the industry and government to accelerate the adoption of digital innovations. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive regulatory reforms to modernize outdated policies, establish a robust IT infrastructure for seamless connectivity, and foster skill development through specialized training in diagnostic technologies. The paper also advocates for stronger public-private partnerships to drive large-scale adoption ...

FICCI-EY Parthenon recently launched a compendium of recommendations titled ‘Road map for making Cancer care affordable and accessible in India’. The paper is a culmination of recommendations gathered from five regional roundtables organized over a year till September 2024, under the aegis of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India. Among these, there is a strong recommendation for the Government of India to roll out a Comprehensive National Cancer Care Policy/Program with a dedicated funding outlay for the top six high-burden cancers. The compendium highlights that India faces a sizeable cancer incidence burden. As per estimates India’s ...

The Indian healthcare ecosystem has witnessed significant progress over the past three decades and now stands at a pivotal juncture, anchored by the principles of affordability, accessibility, and availability. These three pillars are essential for ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services, addressing cost barriers, physical reach, and the consistent supply of medical resources. Attaining these 3As is crucial for the sustainability of India’s healthcare system, meeting current demands while preparing for future challenges. To achieve universal health coverage (UHC), the Government of India has implemented key policies like the National Health Policy 2017 and initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat ...

India's healthcare system faces a critical shortage and uneven distribution of healthcare workers, undermining efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). While healthcare worker density has increased from 13.6 per 10,000 inhabitants in 2005 to 20.6 in 2024, it remains well below the WHO's recommended 44.5 per 10,000. Disparities are stark, with urban areas having four times the doctor density of rural regions, further limiting access to care. The shortage of Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs) is particularly acute, with a deficit of 6.4 million professionals and infrastructure meeting only 4% of the demand. Regional imbalances in the distribution of AHPs ...

India's primary healthcare system is anchored by a vast network of Sub-Health Centers (SHCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs), forming the backbone of rural healthcare delivery. With over 1.6 lakh SHCs catering to populations of 3,000–5,000 each, these centers are the first point of contact for healthcare services at the village level. Staffed by Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Multi-Purpose Workers (MPWs), SHCs focus primarily on maternal and child health, immunization, and common communicable diseases. PHCs, numbering over 31,000, serve as the first professional healthcare facility, staffed with medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, and lab technicians, catering to 20,000–30,000 people each. ...