Ayushman Bharata flagship program of the government, was launched in 2017 to realize the vision of universal health coverage (UHC). Since then, various initiatives have been launched to address critical needs and provide comprehensive care.

On the sidelines of FICCI-Heal 2024, the annual health conference organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Dr. Anna van Poucke, Global Head of Healthcare at KPMG International and Senior Healthcare Associate at KPMG in the Netherlands, revealed that the Ayushmann Bharat program, for example, has significantly improved accessibility and health care affordability, by introducing universal health care. health coverage, establishing primary care and wellness centers, building digital infrastructure, and establishing an overall healthcare mission.

“This progress shows that India actually going in the right direction. However, there is still much to do. First, improving access to healthcare means the need for infrastructure to keep pace. Developing infrastructure not only means building hospitals, but also ensuring a skilled workforce to meet demand. Our work in health education is therefore crucial,” said Dr Pouchke. Financial Express.com.

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It also revealed that geographic disparities pose another major challenge. “There is a notable divide between urban and rural areas, as well as differences between states, so creating equitable access to health care is critical,” she said.

According to her, the third major challenge, which applies to health systems around the world, concerns consumption management. “With universal health coverage, there is a tendency towards overconsumption, a bit like we could use water without taking into account the cost even though it is easily accessible. This is leading many health systems to move towards preventative and proactive models. Here, data infrastructure and technology becomes essential to enable more preventive care,” she said. Financial Express.com.

The biggest challenge globally is transforming healthcare from a manual sector to a digital data-driven sector. Data helps manage population health, and initiatives such as health observatories offer promising advances, she said.

“Finally, it is important to train healthcare workers in digital skills to facilitate remote care delivery. For example, providing digital tools to a community nurse in a remote area helps her provide better care. One of India’s strengths lies in its young population, which offers a large potential workforce. The challenge lies not only in training specialists, but also in training community health care providers and nurses, which is key to building a strong health system,” she told Financial Express.com.

“Balanced approach to training”

When interacting with Financial Express.comDr. Pouchke revealed that a balanced approach to training should be favored. “If we only train super-specialists, we end up providing very expensive care. It is essential to also train family doctors, community nurses and specialist nurses who can take on tasks traditionally entrusted to superspecialists. Making education more affordable is also important, as we saw with the example of training radiologists, which can be very expensive,” she said. Financial Express.com.

She says there are a few other key areas: Increasing research and innovation, particularly in digital and data-driven solutions. “Healthcare professionals need to understand that it is not just about diagnosing and treating patients, but also using data effectively. This can enable remote treatment and proactive health management. Lifelong learning is another essential element, as the healthcare sector is changing rapidly and current practitioners will need to reskill to stay current,” she said. Financial Express.com.

Meanwhile, Lalit Mistry, Partner and Co-Head of Healthcare at KPMG in India, said: Financial Express.com that India is at a unique stage of healthcare evolution, especially post-COVID, with greater consumer awareness.

“Data shows that more people are opting for insurance and there is a growing demand for specialized care and innovative ways to access healthcare. We are also seeing an increase in personal care and healthcare solutions closer to home, facilitated by the availability of technology. This changing landscape requires responses from regulators, providers and payers. This is a fascinating time for India as we are also poised to become a global talent hub for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, potentially exporting skilled professionals in the years to come. Many countries are even seeking specialized training for Indian paramedics and healthcare workers to meet their demands,” Mistry said.

Climate – A serious public health problem

When it comes to climate change and its effects on health, more alternative financing is needed, especially for low- and middle-income countries, Dr Pouchke stressed.

“High-income countries can manage their own interventions, but places like BangladeshThe Caribbean and other countries facing hurricanes, floods or typhoons need more resilient health infrastructure. To address this, green bonds and alternative financing models are needed. Large financial institutions are already looking for more responsible financing solutions, so this world of financing needs to change,” she said. Financial Express.com.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the pharmaceutical industry played a major role in the fight against the pandemic, she informed. “Without vaccines we would still be in a very difficult situation. Thus, the life The scientific industry will have to step up its efforts again. Finally, the technology industry is also becoming more involved in healthcare. Big players like Microsoft, Surface, Salesforce and Google are strongly invest in health technology and data infrastructure,” she said Financial Express.com.

She also argued that businesses will begin to recognize that the climate crisis and resulting health concerns are negatively affecting their productivity.

“It will change the way they think about their responsibilities. CEOs are increasingly aware of the impact of climate change on health, and the sense of corporate social responsibility is growing. ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is becoming very important,” she said.

During the FICCI-HEAL 2024 conference, a knowledge paper on “The Future of PG Medical Education in India: Roadmap 2047” was also released, highlighting the urgent need for reform in the PG medical education system. Indian health, where universal health coverage (UHC) is a priority. national priority. The report highlights the critical role of medical education in combating the shortage of qualified professionals and analyzes the evolution of the Indian healthcare ecosystem over the last three decades.

“There is no health care without a strong workforce. You can build all the infrastructure you want, but without labor it makes no sense. I remember visiting a place where they built a beautiful hospital, but they didn’t have the manpower to staff it, so it sat empty. Securing a workforce for the future is crucial. This is the third consecutive report, and this one focuses on postgraduate medical education,” said Dr. Pouchke. Financial Express.com.

With universal health coverage, the demand for healthcare will increase in India. Without enough doctors, we will not be able to meet this demand. It is essential to focus on training the next generation of health professionals to meet growing needs, particularly in specialized and super-specialized areas such as obstetrics, she stressed.

Mistry added that given the volume of patients in India, especially the demand for specialized superspecialists, the healthcare system will be under great pressure in the future.

“What we need is not just specialized or subspecialized doctors, but a specialized and integrated team. Highly qualified nurses, paramedical staff and an entire team are needed so that dependence on medical specialists can spread throughout the health system. A doctor can only care for a certain number of patients, so we need a larger, integrated health workforce focused on specialized care,” he said. Financial Express.com.

“We need a specialized care delivery team, which includes nurses, a technical support team and paramedics. It’s very important,” he added.

Dr. Pouchke also added that challenges are constant, “but we have to keep moving forward, much like a race that never ends.”

“Labor shortages, rising healthcare costs, increases in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the impact of climate change on health are all major challenges. But at the same time, there is a “good horse” running, and that good horse is about training people, leveraging the capabilities of technology, and empowering communities. It’s about rethinking the workforce. Our challenge will be to get the ‘bad horse’ and the ‘good horse’ to run together,” she said. Financial Express.com.

She believes there are certainly solutions, but the sector needs to become more innovative. “It must be recognized that the old way of providing health care is no longer viable and that we are in an era of transformation,” she added.