One rupee invested on prevention can save Rs 10 on curative healthcare: Dr Girdhar Gyani

Dr Girdhar Gyani, director general, AHPI

We need to focus on promotive, preventive and primary health aspects. One rupee invested on prevention can save Rs 10 on curative healthcare, as it will also reduce disability adjusted life years (DALYs) and enhance national productivity.

We need to work on safe drinking water, sanitation and nutritional needs of society. These are the root causes of adverse IMR and MMR. We need to expedite setting up of state-of-the-art Health & Wellness Centers as envisaged in AYUSHMAN BHARAT by involving private sector and NGOs.

Investment in healthcare can be promoted as CSR activity, so as to be seen as pious and wellbeing of mankind. This will delink healthcare from affluent.

Finally, citizens need to be empowered through high value campaign to understand their healthcare needs and rights to enable them to be conscious of holistic wellness (body, mind and spirit) and at the same time demanding for safe and quality health services from the system, be it public or private. This will help healthcare emerge as a mass movement and become a national/political/election agenda.