New Delhi: India highlighted its progress in strengthening public healthcare, expanding digital health services, advancing hepatitis elimination and improving sickle cell care during key global health engagements held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, a 1993-batch IAS officer, represented India at discussions focused on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and global health, as well as a side event on eliminating hepatitis. India also co-hosted the launch of OneSCD: A Global Partnership to Advance Equity and Transform Sickle Cell Care.
The engagements provided a platform for India to share its experience in expanding affordable healthcare, strengthening primary and specialised care, using digital technologies and addressing major public health challenges.
India Highlights Universal Health Coverage at UNGA81
At the Seventh Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) & Global Health, the Union Health Secretary outlined India’s efforts to make quality healthcare accessible and affordable while reducing financial hardship for patients.
India’s approach focuses on creating an integrated healthcare system covering primary, secondary and tertiary care, with referral linkages connecting different levels of healthcare.
A major component of this approach is the network of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which brings a wide range of healthcare services closer to communities.
India currently has more than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, offering services that include:
- Reproductive, maternal and child healthcare.
- Screening and management of non-communicable diseases.
- Mental healthcare.
- Elderly and palliative care.
- Preventive and promotive healthcare.
- Curative healthcare services.
The Union Health Secretary also highlighted India’s continued focus on maintaining quality standards in primary healthcare delivery.
Read also: ₹285 Crore Push for India’s Indigenous ePlane as Ubifly Targets TRL-9
AB-PMJAY and Essential Healthcare Services Strengthen Financial Protection
The role of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was also highlighted during the UHC discussions.
The publicly funded health assurance scheme is aimed at strengthening financial protection for vulnerable and underserved sections of society and improving access to healthcare.
India has also focused on reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure through initiatives such as:
- Free Drugs and Diagnostics Service Initiative
- Prime Minister’s National Dialysis Programme
These programmes are intended to improve access to essential healthcare services while reducing the financial burden on patients.
India’s Digital Health Ecosystem Expands
Digital technologies have become an important part of India’s healthcare delivery system, particularly in improving continuity of care and overcoming geographical barriers.
The Union Health Secretary highlighted that more than 900 million citizens have unique health identities. Interoperable digital registries covering health facilities and healthcare professionals, along with ABHA-enabled health records, are helping strengthen digital health infrastructure.
Telemedicine has also expanded significantly through e-Sanjeevani.
More than 497 million teleconsultations have been facilitated through the platform, helping connect patients with healthcare services without requiring them to travel long distances.
Other technology-enabled initiatives highlighted by India include:
- Teleradiology services.
- AI-enabled X-rays.
- Mobile Medical Units.
- Digital health records and registries.
These initiatives are aimed at extending healthcare services to remote and underserved communities.
India Reaffirms Commitment to Hepatitis Elimination by 2030
At the UNGA81 side event on “Advancing Global Action to Eliminate Hepatitis,” India highlighted its commitment to the global goal of eliminating Hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030.
The Union Health Secretary emphasised the importance of early diagnosis, affordable treatment and an integrated approach to prevention and care.
Under the National Health Mission (NHM) framework, viral hepatitis screening services are being provided across nearly 1.80 lakh primary healthcare facilities, including Health and Wellness Centres, as well as tertiary care facilities.
The programme has expanded to 1,039 treatment centres.
Since the launch of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme in 2018, nearly 225 million beneficiaries have been screened.
Focus on Prevention and Mother-to-Child Transmission
India is also integrating viral hepatitis interventions with existing national health programmes to strengthen prevention and treatment.
These efforts include measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission under the reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health framework.
The Union Health Secretary stressed that continued progress towards hepatitis elimination will require:
- Wider access to screening and treatment.
- Early diagnosis.
- Timely treatment.
- Stronger health systems.
- Integration of hepatitis interventions with existing public health programmes.
India Co-Hosts Launch of OneSCD Global Partnership
At another global health engagement during UNGA81, India co-hosted the launch of OneSCD: A Global Partnership to Advance Equity and Transform Sickle Cell Care.
The initiative brings together international partners to strengthen the global response to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and promote more equitable and accessible care.
Partners involved in the initiative include:
- Government of Nigeria.
- World Health Organization (WHO).
- UNICEF.
- Africa CDC.
- World Coalition on Sickle Cell Disease.
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The partnership focuses on strengthening international cooperation and improving access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and continuing care for people affected by Sickle Cell Disease.
India Targets Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination by 2047
Speaking at the launch, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted India’s National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, launched in 2023 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Mission aims to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia as a public health problem by 2047.
India’s approach combines population-level screening with early diagnosis, counselling, treatment, follow-up and digital tracking through the public health system.
The programme seeks to identify disease and carrier status at an early stage, provide appropriate counselling and ensure that people diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease remain connected to care.
Over 7.29 Crore People Screened for Sickle Cell Disease
India has made significant progress in expanding screening and awareness under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.
The figures highlighted at UNGA81 include:
- More than 7.29 crore people screened.
- Over 20 lakh carriers identified.
- Around 2.5 lakh people diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease.
- More than 4.93 crore Sickle Cell Cards distributed.
The screening and tracking initiatives are intended to strengthen the continuum of care and improve awareness among individuals, families and communities.
India Expands Access to Diagnostics and Sickle Cell Treatment
India is also working to expand access to affordable point-of-care diagnostics and hydroxyurea therapy for people affected by Sickle Cell Disease.
The country is also pursuing research towards an indigenous gene-editing therapy.
India’s approach emphasises the importance of timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment and continued follow-up to support people living with Sickle Cell Disease.
India Emphasises Global Cooperation on Health
India’s participation in the UHC, hepatitis and OneSCD engagements at UNGA81 reflects its focus on strengthening healthcare systems that can reach people across different geographical and socio-economic settings.
While the UHC discussions highlighted comprehensive, affordable and digitally enabled healthcare, the OneSCD partnership focused on strengthening international cooperation for Sickle Cell Disease.
India reaffirmed its commitment to working with international partners to promote equitable, affordable and people-centred healthcare and to share its experiences in strengthening health systems and improving health outcomes globally.
Read also: India Expands Patient-Safety Net as Centre Approves Biovigilance Programme
