10th National Summit Showcases Scalable Innovations Driving Inclusive, Future-Ready Healthcare

The Summit has emerged as a flagship forum for real-world innovation, where states present replicable, field-tested healthcare models designed to improve access, efficiency, and equity.

In a significant step towards redefining India's public health landscape, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda today inaugurated the 10th National Summit on Innovation and Inclusivity: Best Practices Shaping India's Health Future, positioning the event as a national convergence point for transformative ideas, scalable models, and technology-driven healthcare solutions.

Held in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini and State Health Minister Smt. Arti Singh Rao, the summit brought together policymakers, healthcare leaders, and administrators from across States and Union Territories to exchange actionable innovations that are reshaping service delivery at scale.

A National Platform for Scalable Health Innovation

The Summit has emerged as a flagship forum for real-world innovation, where states present replicable, field-tested healthcare models designed to improve access, efficiency, and equity. With India's healthcare system serving over 1.4 billion people, the emphasis is increasingly on integration, digitization, and last-mile delivery.

Shri Nadda highlighted that the summit reflects a broader shift in India's governance model—one that prioritizes evidence-based policymaking and grassroots innovation. These solutions, he noted, are not theoretical but grounded in field realities, making them scalable across diverse geographies.

From Curative to Comprehensive Care: A Decade of Policy Shift

A central theme of the summit was India's transformation from a curative-centric system to a holistic healthcare framework. The transition from the National Health Policy 2002 to the National Health Policy 2017 marked a structural shift—integrating preventive, promotive, curative, and palliative care into a unified strategy.

This transformation is being powered by a robust primary healthcare network, including over 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which now act as the first point of care for nearly the entire population.

These centres are driving large-scale preventive interventions, including screenings for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancers, particularly for individuals aged 30 and above—an effort critical in addressing India's evolving disease burden.

Data-Driven Progress: Key Health Indicators Show Strong Gains

India's healthcare progress over the past decade has been marked by measurable improvements across key indicators:

• Institutional deliveries have risen from 79% to 89%, signaling stronger maternal healthcare access

• Under-five mortality has declined by 79%, while infant mortality has reduced by 73%

• Tuberculosis treatment coverage has reached 92%, with incidence declining faster than global averages

• India, despite housing nearly one-sixth of the global population, accounts for only a small fraction of global malaria cases

The country has also achieved major public health milestones, including being declared polio-free (2014), eliminating neonatal tetanus (2015), and removing trachoma as a public health concern.

These achievements underscore the effectiveness of large-scale, coordinated public health campaigns combined with improved infrastructure and governance.

Quality Over Expansion: The Next Phase of Healthcare Reform

While infrastructure expansion has been significant, the next phase focuses on quality assurance and system optimization. Over 50,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have already received National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification, but the government is pushing for broader coverage and stricter audits.

The Minister emphasized that timely fund utilization, improved coordination, and stronger governance mechanisms will determine the success of future interventions—particularly under the National Health Mission (NHM).

Tackling the Next Big Challenge: Non-Communicable Diseases

As India's disease profile evolves, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are emerging as a major public health challenge. The government is now focusing on:

• Strengthening screening and early diagnosis systems

• Ensuring treatment continuity and adherence

• Building robust referral networks

This shift reflects a move toward lifecycle-based healthcare, where prevention and long-term management are prioritized alongside treatment.

Haryana Emerges as a Model State for Health Innovation

Host state Haryana showcased several pioneering initiatives that highlight the role of state-level innovation in national health outcomes:

• CARE Campaign: Training families at 188 centres to provide home-based patient care

• eSanjeevani Telemedicine: Enabling ~2,000 daily consultations at primary health centres

• Healthcare Budget Expansion: Increased by 32.89% to nearly ₹14,000 crore

• Medical Education Growth: Medical colleges expanded from 6 (2014) to 17; MBBS seats from 700 to 2,710

• Quality Certification: 1,479 health institutions certified under NQAS

• Emergency & Critical Care: 500 ambulances deployed; free dialysis available in 22 district hospitals

These initiatives demonstrate how policy, funding, and digital innovation can converge to deliver measurable outcomes.

Digital Health Ecosystem Driving Integration

A major highlight of the summit was the growing role of digital health infrastructure under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Platforms like:

• ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account)

• HMIS, JANANI, and eSanjeevani integrations

• Swasth Bharat Portal (newly launched)

are enabling interoperability, real-time tracking, and data-driven decision-making across the healthcare ecosystem.

Notably, the median out-of-pocket expenditure for outpatient care in public facilities has dropped to zero, reflecting a significant reduction in financial burden on citizens—a critical milestone in achieving universal health coverage.

Key Launches Signal Next-Gen Healthcare Strategy

The summit also witnessed the launch of several strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the healthcare system:

• Best Practice Compendium under NHM

• 17th Common Review Mission Report

• Swasth Bharat Portal

• JANANI Portal for maternal and child health tracking

• Integrated Training Module for primary healthcare teams

• RBSK 2.0 and Diabetes Guidelines for Children & Adolescents

These initiatives are designed to enhance capacity building, digital integration, and preventive care frameworks nationwide.

The Road Ahead: Governance, Innovation, and Last-Mile Delivery

Concluding the summit, Shri Nadda emphasized that India's healthcare future will depend not just on funding, but on efficient governance, innovation adoption, and last-mile implementation.

With strong political commitment, expanding digital infrastructure, and a growing ecosystem of innovations, India is positioning itself to build a resilient, inclusive, and globally benchmarked healthcare system aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.