Union health minister J P Nadda, has advocated pharma, medicine and medical device professionals to undertake research and innovation not with commercial motive but with service motive to serve the people at large.
As India is struggling to strengthen its healthcare system, the Union heath minister observed that any research in the field of medicine, whether it be in the area of medical equipment and devices, drugs or even in best practices and systems change, needs to have people at its centre. “Innovation can be complete and meaningful only when it benefits the last person in the delivery chain, and those who are most vulnerable and needy,” stated J. P Nadda.
Of late there is a growing business and commercial tendency among the pharma and medical professionals. As a large chunk of Indian population is yet to be covered under health insurance, more than 65 per cent of population in the country are spending their healthcare expenditure from their pockets and adding to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list every year. In this context the minister's view is quite relevant and the leading pharma and medical professionals have to get their mindset changed and maintain a balance between medical needs and commercial needs.
Definitely, to benefit humanity at large technological innovations even when they do not have commercial viability need to be pursued, but for this, the government should also support such initiatives and encourage younger minds towards research and innovation.
Today India with its predominant rural population needs innovations not only in medical technology to make drugs affordable and easily accessible, but also in improved systems that provide efficient health services to the last person in the delivery chain.
Moreover, there is a high need collaboration of every system and emphasis must be given to integrated research where all the research organisations operate in tandem and work on solutions to health problems challenging the country in unison. It needs to be ensured that the research is people centric and benefits the needy.
At the same time the people in power and policy makers should reorganize and rechristen the existing systems to remove all the bottle necks and should facilitate a smooth and transparent system that is accountable and delivers the desired results in the targeted period.