Two-day ‘FICCI HEAL 2024’ concludes with strategic roadmap to strengthen primary healthcare, women’s health, medical education, and interdisciplinary learning in India

  The two-day ‘FICCI HEAL 2024’ culminated yesterday with deliberations aimed at transforming India’s healthcare landscape. Centred around the theme ‘Swasth Bharat, Viksit Bharat,’ the conference attracted healthcare leaders, policymakers, and innovators committed to building a healthier, more resilient India. The sessions of Day-2 focused on advancing primary healthcare, addressing pressing challenges in women’s cancer care, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare education.

The plenary session led by (Hony) Brig Dr Arvind Lal, Chair of the FICCI Swasth Bharat Task Force; Executive Chairman, Dr Lal PathLabs and Managing Trustee, ALVL, underscored the vital role of primary healthcare in building a robust health system. “Primary healthcare is the most important aspect of delivering universal healthcare to the population. By scaling up essential diagnostics through a hub-and-spoke model and leveraging digitized operations via a Lab Information Management System (LIMS), we’ve seen remarkable progress—such as a 300% increase in test volumes and a 220% rise in patient reach at the CHC Sarojini Nagar hub lab,” Dr Lal stated. He highlighted that with over 70,000 tests completed since 2021 and further connection of spokes planned, this initiative is a significant step toward sustainable, high-quality healthcare.

As a focal point of the conference, speakers including Mr Rajesh Bhushan, Retd., Former Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, examined infrastructure challenges and innovative strategies to improve healthcare access for communities nationwide.

Building trust within the healthcare ecosystem emerged as a critical theme, as speakers highlighted the necessity for transparent and ethical practices. The session on healthcare governance explored the current challenges in combating fraud, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and maintaining integrity across healthcare delivery. Emphasis was placed on fostering a culture of accountability and ethical practice to bridge the trust gap, crucial for strengthening patient rights and advancing healthcare outcomes in India.

“Uttar Pradesh has operationalized over 21,000 Ayushman RRT members, transforming primary healthcare. While considerable progress has been made, challenges like capacity building, community mobilization, and adapting rural models to urban settings remain. Industry collaboration, especially through CSR and self-regulation, coupled with innovative technologies such as tele-diagnostics, will be key to future advancements,” Mr Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, Principal Secretary- Health & Family Welfare, Govt of Uttar Pradesh added.

Mr Rajib Kumar, Sen Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog pointed out the necessity of shifting focus from mere accessibility to quality improvement in healthcare. “While progress in accessibility and affordability is commendable, the focus must now shift to improving healthcare quality. The private sector has the potential to drive innovation in predictive technologies and AI to address emerging health issues. Scalable solutions like telemedicine and diagnostics are vital for overcoming challenges in urban areas. Effective collaboration between states and the private sector is essential for impactful and sustainable healthcare solutions,” he added.

This emphasis on quality improvement is echoed in the approach to medical education, which serves as the foundation for training future healthcare professionals to uphold high standards of care. In the Medical Education Session, Dr Vijay Oza, Acting Chairman, National Medical Commission (NMC) discussed the regulatory changes that are strengthening this foundation. “The NMC has introduced significant reforms to better prepare medical professionals for the future. By defining qualifications more clearly, introducing specialized postdoctoral fellowships, and ensuring high educational standards, we are equipping graduates and postgraduates with the skills needed to tackle future healthcare challenges,” Dr Oza explained.

“Innovative solutions in digital health are key to enhancing patient care and healthcare delivery,” said Dr Suchita Markan, Scientist and Mission In-charge at ICMR. “Our goal is to connect innovators with growth opportunities and strategic partnerships to advance accessible, high-quality healthcare.”

As India’s premier healthcare forum, FICCI HEAL 2024, reaffirmed its commitment to uniting healthcare stakeholders for sustainable reform and innovation in alignment with the ‘Swasth Bharat, Viksit Bharat’ vision. The conference proved to be a transformative platform for catalysing meaningful change in India’s healthcare sector, with a clear roadmap to uplift the quality of life for all citizens.