The Shifting Healthcare Paradigm During and Post-Covid with Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Govt of India. and Chairman of WHO’s Executive Board

“By July or August 2021 approximately 400-500 million doses of vaccine will be given to around 25-30 crore people in the country based on the priority list that includes high-risk people such as frontline workers, healthcare professionals and elderly among others. said Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Govt of India and Chairman of WHO’s Executive Board.

“India has the potential to develop a successful model for delivering healthcare for all”, the Hon’ble Minister reiterated during his conversation on The Shifting Healthcare Paradigm During & Post-Covid with the members of FICCI FLO.

“According to the parameters set by the WHO, India has the highest recovery rate of 93.58 % and the least fatality rate. We are carrying out over a million tests every day & have established 2115+ laboratories across country for testing”.

“We have also initiated an integrated response system against COVID-19 and will also hosting clinical trials for all the major vaccines, and about 20 vaccines are in different stages of development”, the Hon’ble Minister further added

Ms Jahnabi Phookan, National President FICCI FLO, said “Health & healthcare sectors have witnessed several paradigm shifts & fundamental changes during these Covid times. We at FLO have addressed Mental health issues faced by migrant workers, Covid patients & our frontline warriors through psycho-social counselling”.

“Covid-19 has majorly impacted women health, they are at greater risk of sexual and domestic violence, disruptions to their healthcare services, stock-outs of supplies of contraceptives and menstrual hygiene products and mental stress and anxiety. Thus, it is critical that we address our emergency response policies through a gender lens to improve planning and programming”, she further said

Speaking on the Government’s focus on Healthcare the Hon’ble Minister added, “We have initiated various Government initiatives such as the National Health Mission, and we are currently in the process of developing 157 new medical colleges out of which 75 medical colleges are to be developed in aspirational districts of the country where people are living deprived of all the necessary healthcare services. We plan to build 1.5 lakh Health & wellness centres across the country by 2022 out of which 50000-60000 centres have already been created across the country. This will help to provide similar services at both the urban as well as the rural level and hence, bridge the gap between Urban & Rural healthcare services & infrastructure”.

The government recently announced ₹900 crores for Research and Development of Indian COVID Vaccine

The session was moderated by Ms Lalita Nijhawan, Treasurer, FLO.