By Prathiba Raju and Abhijeet Singh
New Delhi: In the rapidly evolving healthcare market, striking the right balance between government efforts and private sector participation can optimize resources and achieve desired health outcomes. The public-private partnership (PPP) model provides ample opportunities to innovate, establish, and scale ideas or businesses, benefiting both financial gains and public healthcare maintenance.
Urvashi Prasad, Director of NITI Aayog, delivered the valedictory address on ‘Decoding the Crucial Role of PPP: Building a Healthier India’ at the third edition of the India Diagnostics Summit convened by ETHealthworld. She emphasized that while India’s healthcare system has traditionally been dominated by hospital-based cure delivery, there is a noticeable shift towards preventive healthcare post-COVID. In this context, medical advancements such as smart wearables and sensors are poised to disrupt the mental health sector.
Prasad elaborated that some start-ups are developing devices capable of assessing the risk of depression based on sleep patterns, heart rate, activity levels, and other metrics. She noted, “Such technologies will become widely accessible and affordable, extending beyond the affluent urban classes.”
Highlighting other trends, Prasad mentioned the diagnostic industry’s anticipated rise in demand for preventive screenings and wellness packages. She also pointed to the growth of advanced and precision diagnostics, providing tailored personalized solutions, and the transformative potential of AI-based screening devices for various ailments, alongside long-term care and doorstep healthcare services.
Prasad also addressed the demographic shift, noting that the population over 60 years old is projected to rise from 10.5 per cent in 2022 to 20.8 per cent by 2050. This shift underscores the need for public-private partnerships in areas like large-scale affordable screening for rural populations, remote monitoring devices for chronic conditions, and telehealth services, alongside developing healthcare infrastructure in tier II-III cities and rural areas.
Stressing the government’s role, Prasad advocated for a production-linked incentive scheme to encourage the manufacturing of medical devices in India. She emphasized that all kinds of medical devices must be made available at reasonable rates.
