In a bold assertion of India’s ambitions to become a digital-first society, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Shekhar, said no Indian should be left “out of network”—either digitally or medically—as the country advances from “digital dependence to digital dominance.”
Speaking at the ETHealthWorld FutureMedX conference on Monday, the Minister outlined a sweeping vision for the future of healthcare in India, one deeply integrated with digital infrastructure and guided by a commitment to equity and accessibility.
“Let’s ensure that in our drive to innovate, we also ensure no one is excluded,” Dr. Chandra Shekhar said. “The goal is not just connectivity but purposeful connectivity—for governance, for healthcare, for life.”
From Patchwork to Precision
India’s rapid digital expansion has been both a source of national pride and logistical challenge. While urban centers are adopting artificial intelligence and telemedicine at scale, rural communities still face gaps in basic health infrastructure. The Minister acknowledged these divides, urging stakeholders to use India’s unique “late-mover advantage” to build systems without the baggage of legacy errors made by developed nations.
Building a Digital-Health Ecosystem
Dr. Chandra Shekhar encouraged a holistic approach to public health, calling for investments in areas beyond hospitals and diagnostics. Mental health, preventive care, and primary care services, he said, must be embedded into digital delivery platforms. This includes leveraging real-time health data, electronic medical records, and user-friendly interfaces designed for regional languages.
A Call for Collaborative Innovation
While lauding private healthcare innovation, the Minister emphasized the need for public-private partnerships and responsible governance. “Digital systems must be built not just for the elite, but for every citizen—accessible, secure, and scalable,” he noted.
The remarks were delivered before a gathering of industry leaders, policymakers, and technologists, who viewed them as a signal that India’s digital health policy may soon shift from vision to structured execution.
The Road Ahead
India’s digital transformation has been catalyzed by flagship initiatives like Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and 5G network expansion. But for its benefits to reach the last mile, experts say, connectivity must translate into care. Dr. Chandra Shekhar’s speech marks a significant step in that direction—one that reframes health infrastructure not merely as a service, but as a shared national utility.
