·         NATHEALTH scaling up Awareness, Availability, Accessibility and Affordability (4A’s) for  Indian healthcare

On the occasion of 6^th anniversary (May 20), Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH) said that rising patient consumerism, expansion of the continuum of care, a shift towards quality based-care, increasing patient participation, the use of technology in delivering care, and increasing insurance penetration are some of the disruptive trends which India is presently witnessing.  During the last six years NATHEALTH, a multi segment collaborative platform has played role of a powerful catalyst in the making of a New Indian Health Economy and facilitated the journey towards accessible, affordable and quality healthcare at scale.

“These trends, along with the implementation of AB-NHPM, offer an opportunity for the private sector to redefine and reorganise themselves and adopt new components of people, process and technology in their business models. NATHEALTH, on its part, played a critical role by engaging all stakeholders including government, in order to create a ‘New Indian Health Economy,” said Mr Anjan Bose, Secretary General, NATHEALTH.

Commenting on the journey so far, Mr. Rahul Khosla, Past President, NATHEALTH and President, Max Group and Chairman, Max Healthcare said, “NATHEALTH has established itself as a credible voice for the healthcare sector on fundamental issues spanning across pricing, public-private partnerships, digital health, skills and ethics. Expectations from the healthcare sector are high, while at the same time, it is under pressure from several quarters. It is crucial now more than ever for all stakeholders to maintain the momentum we have built over the past six years, and work collaboratively with the government to shape the future of healthcare in India.”

“It is time for less posturing, more dialogue, genuine collaboration and faster action. NATHEALTH is well positioned to facilitate the journey towards accessible, affordable and quality healthcare at scale,” he added.

NATHEALTH has been supporting the government with its recommendations based on ground realities and its several suggestions were incorporated in shaping policies including National Health Policy 2017 which focuses on quality and affordable healthcare for all with higher funding and private sector participation.

Mr Daljit Singh, President, NATHEALTH and President, Fortis Healthcare Limited said, “The government’s recent initiatives such as National Health Policy 2017 and ‘Ayushman Bharat’- National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) are notable. The Health Policy envisages engagement with private sector in a big way with focus on quality and affordability. The announcement of Rs 5 lakh insurance coverage for over 10 crore poor families under AB-NHPM would be a game changer. Here, private sector would play a very complex and critical role to make it successful.”

On the occasion of 6^th NATHEALTH Anniversary, Mr. Singh, expressed, “As it celebrates its 6th birthday, NATHEALTH can look back with pride at having created a true, integrative platform that speaks for India’s Healthcare sector. Its pioneering work on several key themes, particularly on the creation of a framework for PPPs and development of the Code of Ethics, has been commendable. Indian Healthcare is at an inflection point, calling for a highly considered and mature response from the sector, given the massive healthcare delivery gaps that exist across our country. NATHEALTH will need to further step up its internal dialogue, amongst members, and external dialogue, with the Government, to develop sustainable solutions for our country’s healthcare challenges; it is also well poised to take the lead in driving ethical and responsible behaviour in the healthcare ecosystem, so necessary to rebuild trust in society. My grateful thanks to the NATHEALTH Team and all members for their contribution over the years.”

During the last six years NATHEALTH not only took initiatives to push Digital Health in association with NASSCOM but also recommended ways for larger Public Private Partnership. It came out with several knowledge papers- Aarogya Bharat: India Healthcare Roadmap for 2025 and Operational Excellence in Healthcare Delivery in India (With Bain & Company), Financing and Funding Indian Healthcare (With PWC)- to prepare a roadmap for ‘Swasth Bharat.’

NATHEALTH believes that the task of universal healthcare coverage agenda is still not over and there is a need to push the preventive healthcare, affordable and accessible curative interventions agenda with even more vigour in the years to come. NATHEALTH is committed to be at the forefront of driving the healthcare agenda truly required by the vast millions of Indians.