Just Not Enough

On World Health Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reaffirmation of commitment to building a healthier world resonates with the ideal that good health is the foundation of a thriving society. However, these declarations must be weighed against ground realities. The Indian healthcare system, while making significant strides, still remains burdened by systemic inequalities, chronic underfunding, and glaring urban-rural disparities.

While the Prime Minister emphasizes investment in "different aspects of people’s well-being," the pressing question is: are these investments reaching where they are needed the most? Rural health infrastructure remains grossly inadequate, with many primary health centres either understaffed or functioning without doctors. India spends merely around 2.1% of its GDP on healthcare, among the lowest for G20 nations, despite consistent pledges to increase it.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme—billed as the world’s largest health insurance programme—has benefitted many, but accessibility issues persist. Private hospitals dominate urban centres, while government facilities continue to be overwhelmed, under-resourced, and often avoided due to poor service quality. Moreover, preventive healthcare still receives less attention compared to curative care, despite its potential to reduce long-term costs and improve quality of life.

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the fragility of our health infrastructure. Oxygen shortages, crumbling hospitals, and the desperate cries of citizens were etched in public memory. Lessons were learned, but implementation of reforms post-pandemic has been uneven and largely invisible in the daily lives of citizens.

Let us not forget that mental health—an integral component of overall well-being—is still treated as a footnote in national policy. The National Mental Health Programme is underfunded and under-implemented, while suicides and psychological distress rise, especially among youth and farmers. Nutritional health, too, remains a critical challenge, with widespread child malnourishment and anaemia among women, despite flagship programmes like POSHAN Abhiyaan.

The Prime Minister’s emphasis on holistic well-being must be accompanied by bold reforms, not just symbolism. Increased public health spending, better regulation of private healthcare, digitisation with accessibility in mind, and robust public awareness campaigns are the need of the hour. Investing in health is not charity—it’s smart economics. A healthier population contributes more productively to the economy and reduces long-term state burden.

World Health Day should not become just another occasion for political rhetoric. It should mark a renewal of measurable action. If we truly believe health is foundational to progress, then India must treat health not as a sectoral issue, but as a national emergency demanding immediate, equitable, and sustained attention.