The power of collaboration

The story of India's fight against polio and universal immunisation demonstrates the power of efficient primary health care. This legacy is being taken forward through the Ayushman Bharat program and the National Health Policy.

Public-private partnerships that reflect the spirit of Ayushman Bharat can be a stepping stone to achieving universal health coverage — an emerging national priority for India. Sustainable contributions from the private sector can combine the vigour and community-led focus of the government alongside innovation and modern practices.

An entrepreneurial mindset, with a will to improve lives, can bring the might of even machine learning and improved diagnostics to everyday medicine.

Designing models of care

Mindful CSR initiatives take the transformative touch of primary health care to far-flung corners of the country, whether it is through telemedicine initiatives or providing greater access to doctors through medically equipped mobile vans.

One of the lessons I learned from our grassroots work in Tamil Nadu is that the best solutions are tailored to the context of the beneficiary, keeping in mind their needs and the environment. After all, care shouldn't just be efficient — it should strive to be empathetic and accessible too.

These initiatives have taught us the far-reaching consequences of simple actions, like providing sanitary care products in schools or nutrition packs to expecting and young mothers and older people. A robust and successful approach tackles not just health but the various realities that shape it, from sanitation and clean water to education.

Here, we must take a cue from the World Health Organisation, which recognises the holistic nature of primary health care. It is only through a focus on the physical, mental and social healthcare of the nation that we can commit to providing care across the lifespan.

(Ashwin Muthiah is the Chairman of AM Foundation, the CSR arm of AM International Singapore, having member corporates like SPIC, MPL, TPL, Greenstar Fertilisers. Views expressed are personal.)

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