Digitization will result in desirable attributes in healthcare system: National Health Authority CEO
Author: BI Bureau
New Delhi: Accentuating the importance of healthcare digitisation, Dr R S Sharma, CEO, National Health Authority, has said that the initiative can bring several desirable attributes to the healthcare system. “Digitization will result in a number of desirable attributes in the healthcare sector. It will make health provisions more affordable and accessible and improve the quality as well,” said Dr Sharma, while addressing FICCI HEAL-2022 here recently.
Dr Harsha Rajaram, Co-Chair, FICCI Digital Health Task Force, and Chief Operating Officer, Aster Telehealth - India and GCC, lauded the initiatives taken by the government in creating a conducive ecosystem in promoting digital health. “Digital health would help to bridge the gap in the healthcare system, and ensure both affordability and accessibility,” he added. FICCI has been working with the government and industry members, since 2012, on the building blocks for digitization, including Electronic Health Record Standards and National Health Stack.
Speaking on ‘Cost Quality Conundrum,’ Dr Shankar Prinja, Executive Director (HP&QA), National Health Authority, underscored the initiatives taken by the central government to control healthcare costs. “We have gone a long way since the time the health benefits package was first conceived under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister. Today we have tried developing a strong database of healthcare costs. This year we announced a new health package where we have increased the prices of 800 plus packages under PMJAY,” he added.
Dr YP Bhatia, Managing Director, Astron Hospital & Healthcare Consultant, said, “I believe one subject is missing in our country, i.e., health economics. There has to be a comprehensive system through which the cost of quality can be worked on.” Dr Atul Kochhar, CEO, NABH, said, “India is getting serious about healthcare. We are a young population, and this young population spends more on healthcare. They are more aware and understand the need to invest in healthcare.”
Lav Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, while highlighting the government initiatives on making India a global healthcare hub, said, “Under Heal in India initiative, the government aims at ensuring value-based healthcare where if the patient from one country does not have treatment in their country, they can come and travel to our county and avail treatment. The Heal by India initiative talks about health workforce mobility where the Indian workforce can be a brand ambassador for India across the world.” /BI/
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The exports of agricultural commodities from March to June 2020 shot up by 23.24 percent on-year to Rs 25,552.7 crores.
As the economy comes to a standstill amid the coronavirus-led lockdown, India’s agriculture sector has taken the baton of economic growth in its hands. The exports of agricultural commodities from March to June 2020 shot up by 23.24 percent on-year to Rs 25,552.7 crores, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The government said that self-reliant agriculture is critical for the goal of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and for this, agricultural export is extremely important as besides earning foreign exchange for the country, the exports help farmers, producers, and exporters to take advantage of the wider international market and increase their income.
The surge in exports has also resulted in increased production in the farm sector by increasing coverage area and productivity. The share of India’s agricultural exports and imports in the world agriculture trade in 2017 was 2.27 percent and 1.90 percent, respectively. Even during the difficult time of pandemic lockdown, India took care not to disturb the world food supply chain and continued to export, the government said.
Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a comprehensive action plan for the promotion of Agri trade; the twofold approach focuses on boosting Agri Export with emphasis on value addition and action plan for Import Substitution. Recently, the Agriculture sector has witnessed a series of reforms, giving more choices to the farmers to sell their produce at competitive rates.
To mention a few, the Export strategy focuses on the export promotion of fast-evolving niche markets of Wellness food/ Health-conscious food/nutraceuticals, Development of “Brand India” in campaign mode to help penetration into new foreign markets and of new products which automatically translates into higher value realization, Gulf countries have been identified as focus destination to increase the market share which is a strong market for India though presently India caters to only 10-12% share of their total imports. A product-market matrix has been made containing a list of products of strength that could be expanded in new geographies and a list of known markets which can be introduced with newer products.
At the behest of the Department of Agricultural Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, product-specific Export Promotion Forums have been created to lead Agri exports to new heights. Each Export Promotion Forum shall be having exporters of the related commodity as its members along with official members representing concerned Ministries/Departments of the Central and State Governments. Chairman APEDA shall be the chairman of each of these forums. The forums will meet at least once every two months, to discuss recommendations on issues pertaining to the export.
The recommendations of the forum will be placed in the product committee / Authority of APEDA. The Forum will keep in close contact with the concerned organization of the Ministry of Agriculture such as MIDH, Extension, NPPO, etc., DGFT, Ministry of Civil Aviation, MoFPI, etc. to further the interest of agricultural export.
