New Delhi: Reflecting on India’s rapid transformation in both digital connectivity and healthcare access, Union Minister Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar declared that the country has moved from “digital dependence to digital dominance” over the past decade — with sweeping gains in affordable mobile internet, world-leading 5G rollout, and the scaling up of Ayushman Bharat, now the world’s largest public health insurance programme.
“No Indian should ever be out of network — digitally or medically,” the minister said, calling for industry and public partnerships to bridge the last-mile gaps in rural healthcare and digital inclusion.
Speaking at the inaugural edition of ETHealthworld FutureMed X – The Smart Patient Care Summit, Dr. Chandra Sekhar, who has worked extensively across both telecom and healthcare sectors, emphasised how connectivity and care are becoming twin pillars of India’s progress.
Turning to healthcare, the minister highlighted that the Ayushman Bharat scheme has become the world’s largest public health insurance programme, having provided more than nine crore cashless treatments worth ₹1.25 lakh crore.
He noted that out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in India have fallen significantly, from 62 per cent to 39.4 per cent, easing financial pressure on millions of households, particularly in rural areas.
Over 1.5 lakh Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres have been established to bring quality primary care closer to communities.
India’s healthcare workforce has also expanded considerably, with over one lakh doctors graduating annually and postgraduate medical seats increasing by 127 per cent.
The country now has about 13 lakh allopathic doctors and nearly 19 lakh total practitioners across systems of medicine, moving closer to WHO standards for doctor-patient ratios.
However, a key challenge remains: most doctors are concentrated in urban areas, even though 60 per cent of Indians live in rural regions.
India’s digital healthcare infrastructure continues to grow rapidly, with 36 crore teleconsultations conducted to date, peaking at half a million consultations per day.
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission has integrated 55 crore health records, while the Tele-MANAS helpline now offers round-the-clock mental health support in multiple languages.
An experimental COVID-era immunisation tracking app has evolved into a nationwide vaccination tracker.
According to the minister, more than 95 per cent of India is now covered by 4G, with only 30,000 remote villages, largely in forests or hilly terrains, yet to be connected to 3G or 4G networks.
These gaps are actively being addressed. India’s mobile network today serves nearly 1.2 billion subscribers and offers the world’s lowest data rates.
The country also achieved the fastest 5G rollout in the world, with more than 250 million Indians already using 5G services. More than 80 per cent of the population can access 5G, provided they have compatible devices.
The Union minister noted that India has also connected 2.14 lakh villages with high-speed optical fibre, with more than seven lakh kilometre of fibre already laid.
However, ongoing highway and industrial works have caused frequent cable cuts. A new Rs 1.3 lakh crore project will connect another 40,000 gram panchayats, maintain and repair existing fibre, and enable 1.5 crore rural households to access affordable high-speed internet without upfront costs.
To cover ultra-remote terrains, satellite communication services like Starlink have been licensed. “This connectivity is not just about faster data; it is about faster development across sectors like education, governance, and most importantly, healthcare,” Dr. Chandra Sekhar said.
Dr. Chandra Sekhar called on innovators and entrepreneurs to help tackle remaining gaps in healthcare delivery. He emphasised opportunities to expand telemedicine services in rural India, supported by networks of trained nurses and mobile medical units.
He also encouraged the use of drone technology to deliver medicines and emergency supplies to underserved regions. Improving electronic prescriptions, enhancing interoperability of health records, and addressing counterfeit drug risks were also identified as key priorities.
The minister said India could learn from international experiences — for instance, fragmented EMR systems in the US led to inefficiencies, while India has the opportunity to build more integrated, user-friendly systems from the start. The country’s late-mover advantage could help avoid legacy mistakes and drive global best practices.
He also stressed the need to strengthen preventive care, expand home-based services such as occupational therapy and hospice care, and promote workforce planning that reflects regional needs.
He pointed out that mental health services — including school-based counselling — need more investment, alongside case coordination to help patients navigate India’s complex healthcare system.
Dr. Sekhar also suggested that India develop opportunities for mobile preventive care units (for dental, mammograms, vaccinations, screenings), create real-time medical language translation tools, and promote community health worker networks to deliver care and education in local languages.
“India should be a living laboratory for the world,” he concluded. “Every Indian deserves global-standard healthcare — and no Indian should ever be out of network, digitally or medically.”
