New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Sunday that India is standing at the crossroads of a health-tech revolution and is entering a new era in healthcare and innovation.
Speaking at an event organised ahead of the Doctors鈥 Day here, Jitendra Singh highlighted how the country鈥檚 rapid economic growth and advancements in science and technology are shaping a brighter future for healthcare in India.
The Minister, who is also a renowned doctor and diabetologist, said that India鈥檚 rise from the 10th to the 4th largest economy in the world is just the beginning, and this upward journey will continue.
He pointed to the recent mission of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station carrying indigenous life science kits as a major milestone.
He said this could lead to the birth of a new field in medicine 鈥 Space Medicine 鈥 and added that very soon, India might introduce a dedicated stream in medical education called 鈥楽pace Physicians鈥.
Jitendra Singh also called for building a 鈥渟ynergised, inclusive, and futuristic healthcare ecosystem鈥 in line with the vision of 鈥榁iksit Bharat@2047鈥.
Speaking on India鈥檚 changing population, Singh said that the country is facing a 鈥渂i-phasic challenge,鈥 where both the elderly and youth populations are rising.
He noted that while more than 70 per cent of the population is under 40, the average lifespan has increased from around 50 years in 1947 to nearly 80 years today.
The Minister also spoke about India鈥檚 dual disease burden 鈥 where both communicable and non-communicable diseases are affecting people 鈥 especially in the post-Covid world.
He stressed the need for mass screenings, early detection, and strong public-private partnerships to improve healthcare.
He also encouraged the use of modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence, telemedicine, and machine learning.
The minister further stated that India has emerged as a global leader in preventive and precision healthcare.
He mentioned that India created the world鈥檚 first DNA vaccine for Covid-19, developed an HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, and recently conducted its first gene therapy trial for haemophilia.
He also announced the launch of Nafithromycin, India鈥檚 first indigenously developed antibiotic molecule, marking a major step in the country鈥檚 pharmaceutical innovation.
He credited these achievements to early collaboration with the private sector and said such partnerships are key to success.