Tech important catalyst to improve health outcomes: PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Technology is an important catalyst to improve health outcomes, PM Narendra Modi said Tuesday while addressing the 78th World Health Assembly being held in Geneva. Highlighting India's achievements in this regard, Modi, in a video message, said, "We have a digital platform to track vaccination of pregnant women and children. Millions of people have a unique digital health identity. It is helping us integrate benefits, insurance, records and information." He said with telemedicine, nobody is too far from a doctor. "Our free telemedicine service has enabled over 340 million consultations," Modi said.

The PM recalled his address to the 2023 World Health Assembly, in which he had spoken of 'One Earth, One Health' and had pointed out that the future of a healthy world depends on inclusion, an integrated vision and collaboration.

Emphasising that inclusion is at the core of India's health reforms, he highlighted Ayushman Bharat, world's largest health insurance scheme that covers 580 million people & provides free treatment.

He noted India's extensive network of thousands of health and wellness centres facilitates early screening and detection of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.