India's efforts to emphasize preventive care

A not-so-popular government tagline reads ‘Sahi Bhojan Behtar Jeevan’ (right food better life). Coined two years ago to spread the essence of the ‘Eat Right India’ scheme launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the slogan encapsulates a simple message: eat safe, healthy and sustainable food. This scheme and the missions on sanitation, health insurance and fitness have emerged as the four pillars of India’s preventive healthcare policy. Covid-19 has widened that spectrum, bringing in a sense of urgency, also nudging India Inc to come on board and think beyond the usual hospital-pharmacy route of healthcare services.As citizens had no option but to bank on preventive modes till they got vaccinated, it was only logical that the business potential of immunity boosters, sanitisers and masks grew sharply, with newer ideas such as consultancy-on-phone and e-pharmacies catching on.“Because of Covid, people have been focusing on preventive healthcare. Our Apollo Pharmacy data has shown a steep rise in sale of sanitation products, up to 350% (as compared to pre-Covid months),” said Shobana Kamineni, executive vice-chairperson of Apollo Hospitals, which runs a chain of 71 hospitals and 3,400 pharmacies in multiple cities.Kamineni, a former president of the Confederation of Indian Industry, also said that several companies have started exploring new healthcare packages such as testing and call-a-doctor to take care of their employees working from home.Rana Mehta, leader of healthcare practice at consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), said companies such as 1mg, PharmEasy, Practo and Mfine have emerged stronger amid the pandemic as they have all their verticals such as consultancy, e-pharmacy and diagnostics on one platform.Investors are now scouting for such medical companies that emphasise on preventive healthcare and innovation, he said.“The future lies in preventive healthcare. As the World Health Organization data shows, the countries spending more on preventive medicines have low mortality and morbidity. Also, a country controlling diseases such as diabetes, cardiac arrest and hypertension end up saving half a percentage of its GDP (gross domestic product),” said Mehta.Although doctors and medical experts have been on the same page on tuberculosis (TB) being the biggest long-term healthcare problem in India, with its fast spread being noticed among the workforce in the manufacturing sector and community at large, they are concerned that TB is getting sidetracked because of Covid-19. While financial details of this financial year have yet to be made public, it is suspected that resources spent on prevention of TB have dwindled since the Covid-19 outbreak.Most actions, be it the ramping up of health infrastructure or focusing on the preventive segment, get stuck mainly on one count — lack of adequate resources. Former union health secretary Lov Verma said India must step up its public spending on healthcare.“A lot more money needs to be set aside for healthcare. At present, India’s health budget is just 1.4% of GDP, way below the nation’s target of spending 2.5% by 2025,” he said, adding that the government must make artificial intelligence, screening, health and wellness centres as well as digital interventions the key pillars for future healthcare.Meanwhile, the government has sought to revive the use of traditional medicines and practices to prevent diseases. “One of the surprising but important aspects in preventive healthcare is the use of traditional cures and medicines in raising immunity level,” said Rajiv Kumar, vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, the government’s premier policy think-tank.“With the NITI Aayog setting up a high-level committee on integrated medicines, we are hopeful we will soon be able to mainstream our traditional medicines.” As the world awaits an end to Covid-19, preventive medicine remains the buzzword among policymakers.

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