New Delhi, Sept 24: India is steadily expanding its public healthcare network by bringing primary care, financial protection and digital health services closer to people, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Speaking at global health discussions on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted India’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and digital health platforms.
The expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs is helping shift the focus towards healthcare closer to communities. These centres provide services covering preventive care, maternal and child health, screening for non-communicable diseases and other primary healthcare needs. The approach is particularly important for people in areas where access to larger hospitals and specialist services can be difficult.
Alongside physical healthcare infrastructure, India is also building a wider digital health ecosystem. Platforms such as ABHA and e-Sanjeevani are helping connect patients, health facilities and medical professionals through digital systems. The government has also been focusing on greater use of health analytics, artificial intelligence and interoperable digital records.
Telemedicine has become an important part of this transformation. Through e-Sanjeevani, patients in locations with limited specialist availability can access medical consultations remotely, reducing the need to travel long distances for certain healthcare services. The government has identified digital health as an important tool for overcoming geographical barriers, particularly for rural and underserved populations.
Financial protection is another major component of the Ayushman Bharat framework. PM-JAY provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for eligible beneficiaries, helping reduce the financial burden associated with hospitalisation and major medical treatment.
The government’s broader health infrastructure programme is also aimed at improving the capacity of the public health system. Under PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, investments are being directed towards health facilities, laboratories, surveillance systems and preparedness for future health emergencies.
The push towards digital healthcare is also creating a growing technology ecosystem around the sector. Telemedicine, health-data platforms, digital records, diagnostics, medical technology and AI-based healthcare solutions are becoming increasingly important as healthcare delivery becomes more connected.
For rural India, the combination of local health centres and digital connectivity could be particularly significant. A patient may be able to access primary care locally while using telemedicine and digital systems to connect with specialists elsewhere.
India’s healthcare expansion is therefore moving beyond simply adding hospitals and health centres. The focus is increasingly on creating a connected healthcare system that combines local primary care, financial protection, specialist access and digital technology.
As these systems expand, their effective use at the grassroots level will remain important in ensuring that India’s investment in public healthcare translates into easier access to quality care for communities across the country.
