Anupriya Patel Highlights Transformative Changes in India’s Healthcare System at the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards 2025

Times Network, India’s premium broadcast and digital news network, hosted the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards 2025, bringing together policymakers, healthcare experts, and industry professionals to discuss strategies for a resilient and accessible healthcare ecosystem in the country. A total of 103 winners were felicitated at the awards ceremony, celebrating excellence across the healthcare spectrum. India is rapidly emerging as a global healthcare powerhouse, with ambitious reforms driving innovation, accessibility, and growth. Valued at over $500 billion, the sector supports millions of jobs across hospitals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and health-tech, while advancements in telemedicine, AI diagnostics, and digital health are transforming

care delivery. Against this backdrop of transformation, the summit served as a vital platform to evaluate progress, highlight challenges, and chart the next phase of India’s healthcare journey. Addressing the Summit, Chief Guest Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India, highlighted, "India’s healthcare system has undergone a profound transformation, from spending just 1.1% of GDP on health to nearly 2% today, aiming for 2.5% as per the National Health Policy 2017. Schemes like Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY have emerged as social revolutions, delivering ₹5 lakh free health coverage to over 62 crore vulnerable citizens. With over 81 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs created and 73 crore citizens linking their medical records, we are building one of the world’s largest digital health ecosystems."She further added, “Medical colleges have more than doubled, from 387 to 809, and AIIMS institutions have increased from 7 to 23 in just 11 years. Out-of-pocket health expenditure has dropped significantly from 63% to 39.4%. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent hope, access, and dignity for millions. But health is a shared mission. Ayushman Bharat, coupled with initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Jan Arokya Yojana, Amrit Pharmacy, Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, the Free Drugs and Diagnostics Initiative, which is executed right from a sub-centre or an Ayushman Aroki Mandir to a PHC, to a CHC, to a district hospital, is available in all the primary and secondary government health facilities. Along with government efforts, we need stronger partnerships and collective action to realise our vision of a Swasth Bharat and Viksit Bharat by 2047." As part of its effort to empower patients and promote greater transparency in healthcare, Times Network has conducted a comprehensive survey and developed hospital rankings to promote greater transparency and help people make informed decisions about their care. These rankings will be unveiled in multiple phases, with the current phase announcing the All-India Top 5 Group of multispecialty hospitals. With a focus on innovation, accessibility, affordability, and preventive care, the summit underscored how technology, research, and collaboration can transform healthcare delivery and build a resilient system for the future. Through thought-provoking discussions and inspiring stories, the event highlighted a collective vision of making quality healthcare equitable and sustainable to every Indian. The event was powered by INTAS, co-powered by Novartis and All Out, with MGR University as the Knowledge Partner, FIT INDIA as the Supporting Partner, OneXtel as the Strategic Alliance Partner, Nuvama as the Wealth Partner, and Heights as the Outdoor Partner.