India Reaffirms Commitment to Healthy Ageing at WHO South-East Asia Meet
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Patel outlined India’s comprehensive, people-centric approach to elderly health care, anchored in preventive and promotive services integrated within the primary health system.
- Country:
- India
Representing India at the Ministerial Roundtable of the 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, Smt. Anupriya Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, reaffirmed India’s commitment to promoting Healthy Ageing through strengthened Primary Health Care (PHC). The high-level meeting, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 13–15 October 2025, centered on the theme “Healthy Ageing through Strengthened Primary Health Care.”
The Minister emphasized that as India experiences a major demographic shift with 153 million citizens aged 60 years and above, it is imperative to build a health system that ensures equitable, accessible, and affordable care for the elderly.
India’s Policy Focus on Healthy Ageing
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Patel outlined India’s comprehensive, people-centric approach to elderly health care, anchored in preventive and promotive services integrated within the primary health system.
At the core of this effort lies the National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE), which is now operational in 92% of Indian districts. The programme aims to deliver preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services to older adults, while also emphasizing community-based and home-care interventions.
Under NPHCE, India has built a structured network that includes:
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Home-based care for bedridden and dependent elderly persons.
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Community outreach and screening for age-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancers.
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District-level Geriatric Clinics and Wards in medical colleges and district hospitals.
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Caregiver training to enable families and communities to provide dignified support to the elderly.
“The goal is not only to extend lifespan but to improve health span — ensuring that old age is lived with dignity, independence, and security,” the Minister noted.
Expanding Financial Protection for the Elderly
In a major policy advancement, Smt. Patel announced that the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB–PMJAY) has been expanded to cover all citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income.
This landmark decision is expected to benefit nearly 60 million elderly persons across 45 million families, offering cashless hospital care of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year in both public and empanelled private hospitals.
This expansion reinforces India’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) and social protection for vulnerable groups, ensuring that financial barriers do not impede access to quality healthcare.
Centres of Excellence in Geriatric Care and Research
Highlighting India’s investments in geriatric infrastructure, Smt. Patel mentioned the establishment of two National Centres of Ageing (NCAs) — at AIIMS, New Delhi, and Madras Medical College, Chennai — along with 17 Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs) across the country.
These centres act as hubs for clinical excellence, capacity building, research, and policy development, ensuring a continuum of care from primary to tertiary levels.
Additionally, India’s nationwide health campaigns, such as ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’ (Healthy Women, Empowered Families), have included millions of elderly, particularly women, in screenings for non-communicable and age-related diseases, demonstrating India’s inclusive approach to public health.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation in South-East Asia
At the WHO roundtable, India emphasized that Healthy Ageing must be approached through regional cooperation and innovation. Smt. Patel proposed three key areas of collaboration among WHO South-East Asia Member States:
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Establishing a regional platform for knowledge exchange and innovation on PHC–LTC (Primary Health Care–Long-Term Care) integration.
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Investing in capacity building and training for geriatric healthcare providers and caregivers across the region.
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Promoting technological innovations to support independent and dignified living for older adults, including telemedicine, wearable health monitoring, and smart home solutions.
India’s proposal aims to build a collaborative regional ecosystem that addresses common challenges such as workforce shortages, care coordination, and the rising burden of chronic diseases.
Aligning with the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030)
Reaffirming India’s alignment with the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, Smt. Patel underscored that ageing should be seen as an opportunity for inclusive growth and social transformation, not merely as a demographic challenge.
“Guided by the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’, India remains committed to ensuring that every stage of life, including old age, is lived with dignity, security, and care,” she stated.
She added that India’s approach — blending policy innovation, digital health, and community participation — can serve as a model for other developing nations striving to achieve equitable and sustainable health systems.
A Vision for Dignified Ageing
India’s participation at the WHO Regional Committee reflects its global leadership in promoting people-centric, inclusive healthcare. With expanding geriatric infrastructure, financial protection schemes, and regional partnerships, India is not only addressing the needs of its growing elderly population but also contributing to shaping a resilient and compassionate health agenda for the South-East Asia region.
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