Healthcare Not A Business For Us, It Is A Service: Mansukh Mandaviya

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemical and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said that healthcare is not a business but a service. Recalling the Covid-19 pandemic and India’s leadership during the crisis, Mandaviya noted that India’s pharma industry got all support from the government to increase its production and helped as many as 150 countries by sending medical assistance to them.

“Through the health sector, we showed our leadership during the pandemic, which was based on the welfare of the global humanity,” Mandaviya said.

On India’s vaccination drive, the minister said, “Our vaccination drive is being studied around the world. The Cowin Portal became a case study for many countries which later implemented similar portals for their vaccination drive.”

The minister appreciated the services of the healthcare fraternity during the pandemic and said they risked their own health and life to serve the patients.

Mandaviya, while addressing a gathering of Padma Awardee Doctors at BW Healthcare World’s Bharat Swaasth Mahotsav, said that India has immense potential but needs to figure out how it could be channelised for optimum output. 

“The nation will always be indebted to them (Padma Awardees) for their services to humanity,” he said.

He traced India’s deep cultural and historical roots to the Indus Valley Civilisation and highlighted how technology and science were prevalent in town planning during that time as well.

He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has helped the country to come out of a slave mindset which had limited our capabilities and approach towards science and technology. He cited the government’s support for research and development, which helped India develop a vaccine for Covid and begin its production.

Addressing Padma Awardee doctors’ contribution to society, Mandaviya said, “You all have exhibited immense perseverance, and that has helped you achieve this (Padma Award) respect.” He stressed the influence of these doctors in society and said that their knowledge sharing for the betterment of civil society is vital.

“You will have to think about what we can give back to the country for this honour. Data and analysis should be ours so that the world can read them. We need the Nobel as well, along with the Padma, and doctors can give direction to the healthcare sector,” he added.