India’s Transformation into a Global Health Powerhouse, Key Achievements

India’s healthcare sector has witnessed a major transformation in the past few decades. From struggling with infectious diseases and limited health infrastructure, the country has now emerged as an important contributor to global healthcare. 

Today, India is widely recognised for its affordable medicines, strong pharmaceutical industry, and expanding healthcare delivery system.

Major Government Initiatives Driving India’s Transformation into a Global Health Powerhouse

Government initiatives aimed at universal health coverage, affordable medicines, digital health systems, and stronger medical infrastructure have improved healthcare access within the country while also strengthening India’s global health role. Key government initiatives are: 

Universal Health Coverage

India’s journey towards becoming a global health powerhouse is strongly linked with its effort to provide universal health coverage. The flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat aims to ensure affordable healthcare for all citizens, especially vulnerable sections of society. Its four major components include: 

• AB-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme. 
• Ayushman Arogya Mandir for upgrading sub health centres and primary health centres.
• Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) – the largest pan-India scheme for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which forms the backbone for a citizen centric interoperable digital health ecosystem.

AB-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) was launched in September, 2018, to achieve universal health care. 
• It provides healthcare coverage up to Rs. 5 lakhs per year for secondary and tertiary care services and hospitalisation to enrolled socio-economically deprived families and to all senior citizens above 70 years.

• The scheme enables cashless treatment at empanelled government and private hospitals.
• It is considered the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance programme.
• The scheme is aimed at the bottom 40% of the Indian population, covering 120 million people, with over 434 million Ayushman cards already made.
• The scheme has helped reduce the healthcare expenditure of families by increasing government spending on health insurance. The savings for families was over Rs. 1.25 lakh crore.
• The allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has been raised to Rs. 9,500 crore in Budget Estimates 2026–27, up by Rs. 500 crore or 5.56% over the Revised Estimates of Financial Year 2025–26. This increase aims to expand beneficiary coverage, improve service quality, and strengthen hospital networks.

Ayushman Arogya Mandirs 

• A strong primary healthcare system is essential for improving health outcomes. Under the Ayushman Bharat programme, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established to provide healthcare services close to communities.
• Over 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established across the country.
• These centres provide preventive, promotive and basic healthcare services.
• Teleconsultation facilities help patients connect with doctors remotely.
• These centres also conduct screenings for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.
• This network has significantly improved healthcare access in rural, tribal and aspirational districts.

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)

To further strengthen healthcare systems, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). Key objectives include:

• Building block public health units and integrated public health laboratories.
• Developing critical care hospital blocks in district hospitals.
• Strengthening pandemic preparedness and disease surveillance systems.
• Expanding healthcare infrastructure from the village level to the national level.

These measures aim to create a resilient and responsive healthcare system.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

The Ayushman Bharat also supports the creation of a robust digital public infrastructure through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

• The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to build a digital health ecosystem where citizens can access healthcare services easily. 
• Beneficiaries are assigned a unique health identification number, under the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) system, enabling their medical records to be securely stored and accessed online through a “digital health locker”.
• Through an app, users can also connect with registered healthcare professionals.
• Verified healthcare professionals can treat patients remotely through teleconsultations and review digital health records. This digital ecosystem enables last-mile health coverage.  

Integration of Technology in Healthcare

India is increasingly using modern technologies to improve healthcare services.

Use of Artificial Intelligence 

• During the AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India (SAHI), the first nation in the South-Eastern region to do so.
• The strategy encourages innovation and rapid increase in the application of AI in healthcare, while emphasising ethical use and conduct. 

Examples of AI Applications

• Eka Doc: Helps doctors in triaging patients, searching treatment protocols, and summarising patient records. It has assisted over 1 million patients.
• Sunoh.AI: Uses voice technology to help doctors quickly create electronic prescriptions.
• Adverse Outcome Prediction Tool: Uses predictive analytics to identify TB patients at risk of treatment failure, helping reduce adverse outcomes by around 27%.
• MadhuNetrAI: Allows health workers to take retinal images, which AI analyses to identify diabetes-related eye disease, helping prioritise urgent treatment.

i-DRONE Initiative

• Launched in 2021 by the Indian Council of Medical Research to use drones for delivering vaccines and medical supplies to remote areas.
• First implemented in Manipur and Nagaland. Later it was expanded to other regions. Drones are now being used for high-altitude medical deliveries in Himachal Pradesh, TB sample transport in Telangana, pathology sample transfers in Karnataka, and blood transport trials in Delhi NCR.
• Aims to improve last-mile healthcare delivery, reduce transport time, and strengthen medical logistics in difficult terrains.

National Health Mission 

National Health Mission was launched in 2013 by the Government of India to strengthen the public healthcare system, especially in rural and urban areas.

• It integrates two major programmes: National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
• The mission focuses on improving maternal health, child health, immunisation, and disease control, while strengthening health infrastructure and human resources.
• It also supports programmes such as the Universal Immunisation Programme, disease control initiatives, and community healthcare services.
• ASHA workers play a key role in delivering healthcare services at the grassroots level.

Universal Immunisation Programme,

• Universal Immunisation Programme was launched in 1985 by the Government of India to provide free vaccines to children and pregnant women.
• It is one of the largest public health programs targeting close of 26.7 million newborns and 29 million pregnant women annually free of cost.
• Under the Universal Immunisation Programme, the government provides 11 vaccines to protect children and pregnant women from several life-threatening diseases. These include Hepatitis B Vaccine, Oral Polio Vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccine for tuberculosis, Injectable Polio Vaccine, Pentavalent Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, Measles & Rubella Vaccine, Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Vaccine, Tetanus & Adult Diphtheria Vaccine, and Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine. 
• These vaccines are provided free of cost through government health centres to reduce child mortality and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Mission Indradhanush

• Launched in 2014 by the Government of India to increase full immunisation coverage among children and pregnant women.
• The mission focuses on children who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated under the Universal Immunisation Programme.
• It aims to protect children from seven vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles, and hepatitis B.
• Special attention is given to remote, tribal, urban slum, and hard-to-reach areas.

HPV Vaccination Programme

• Launched by the Government of India on 28 February 2026 to prevent Cervical Cancer.
• The programme provides the Gardasil-4, a WHO-prequalified single-dose vaccine.
• Targets adolescent girls aged 14 years, with vaccination provided free of cost at government health facilities.
• Protects against HPV types 16 and 18 (major causes of cervical cancer) and types 6 and 11.
• Around 11.5 million girls are currently eligible for vaccination.
• Implemented as a 90-day nationwide campaign, after which it will continue under routine immunisation.
• With this initiative, India joined more than 160 countries implementing HPV vaccination programmes.

Key Achievements of National Health Mission

• COVID-19: Over 2.2 billion vaccine doses administered nationwide
• Maternal Health: Maternal Mortality Ratio declined by 83% since 1990, surpassing the global decline of 45%
• Child Health: Under-5 Mortality Rate reduced by 75% since 1990, higher than the global reduction of 60%
• Tuberculosis: TB incidence reduced from 237 per 1,00,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023; over 940,000 TB patients supported by 156,000 Ni-kshay Mitra volunteers under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
• Measles-Rubella: 97.98% vaccination coverage achieved under the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0; over 347.7 million children vaccinated 
• Sickle Cell Anaemia: Over 26.1 million individuals screened in tribal areas under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission
• Dialysis: Over 220,000 patients have availed dialysis services and over 2.5 million hemodialysis sessions held under the scheme (as on June 30, 2024).  
• Tobacco Control: 17.3% reduction in tobacco use over the past decade

Affordable Medicines

Improving access to affordable medicines is another key aspect of India’s health policy.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana 

• Launched to provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices.
• Medicines are sold through around 17,990 Janaushadhi Kendras across India.
• Over 2,000 medicines and 315 surgical products are available.
• Prices are 50-90% cheaper than market rates.
• Medicines cover diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
• The scheme has helped people save about ₹30,000 crore in the last decade.

Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment

• Launched to support tertiary healthcare by providing affordable medicines and medical implants.
• AMRIT Pharmacies supply branded, branded-generic, and generic medicines, along with surgical items and implants.
• Around 255 AMRIT pharmacies are currently operating in India.
• The government plans to expand the network to 500 outlets across the country.

‹ ›

India as the “Pharmacy of the World”

India’s pharmaceutical industry has become a major pillar of global healthcare.

• India has the 3rd largest pharmaceutical industry in the world by volume and supplies around 20% of global generic medicines, exporting to about 200 countries.
• India provides over 70% of global anti-retroviral medicines, strengthening health security for many countries in the Global South.
• India is a major global vaccine supplier, providing 55–60% of vaccines procured by UNICEF and a large share of DPT, BCG, and measles vaccines.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, India developed indigenous vaccines such as Covaxin and Covishield, showing strong research and manufacturing capacity.
• India’s bio-economy grew 13 times from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030.
• The Biopharma SHAKTI initiative (Union Budget 2026-27) aims to strengthen biologics and biosimilars manufacturing, develop 1,000+ clinical trial sites, and expand pharmaceutical education through new NIPER institutes.
• The National Biopharma Mission (launched in 2017) supports biotechnology innovation, with 101 projects, 150+ organisations, and over 1,000 jobs created.
• Major innovations include India’s first indigenous MRI scanner, biosimilar of Liraglutide for Type-2 diabetes, and ZyCoV-D, the world’s first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Health Education Expansion in India 

• The Government of India is expanding medical education to meet the rising demand for healthcare services.
• There are now 23 publicly funded All India Institute of Medical Sciences institutes, including the first AIIMS in the Northeast at Assam.
• India has 2,045 medical colleges, including 780 allopathy, 323 dental, and 942 AYUSH institutions.
• MBBS seats increased by 130%, from 51,348 to 118,190 in the last 11 years.
• Postgraduate medical seats increased by 138%, from 31,185 to 74,306.

These steps aim to improve access to quality medical education and strengthen India’s healthcare workforce.