Stressing that India has made notable improvements to its healthcare infrastructure following the COVID-19 pandemic, a World Bank official said that the subcontinent is better prepared to respond to future health crises.
In an interview with news agency ANI, Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund at the World Bank, emphasised the importance of initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Digital Health Mission in improving healthcare access in the country.
Basu also acknowledged the challenges in preparing for pandemics but noted that significant lessons were learned from the COVID-19 experience. “Lessons that involve having that surge capacity to be able to quickly ramp up testing, having the necessary equipment, and PPE capacity in hospitals, in terms of ICU units and ICU beds,” she explained.
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While recognising that global preparedness remains a work in progress, Basu commended India’s proactive approach to strengthening its healthcare system. “I would say that efforts have been made in India to improve access to healthcare and its infrastructure. There’s the Ayushman Bharat and there’s the National Digital Health Mission,” she said.
Ayushman Bharat aims to provide a health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Meanwhile, the National Digital Health Mission aims to create a comprehensive digital health ecosystem in the country.
