Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has sought the active support of the private partners to increase healthcare access to the bottom of pyramid in rural India even as experts called for new models and products backed up by strong government drive.

Addressing the partners from healthcare sector including the industry leaders as part of a recent summit, DoP joint secretary Devendra Chaudhary said the best working solution is not to leave everything to the government. “We need private sector participation to increase healthcare access to the bottom of pyramid in rural India,” he said.

Taking part in the discussion on access to healthcare, organized by Assocham, World Health Organisation India representative Nata Menabde said Indian healthcare industry needed strong support of the government to provide universal and equitable access to essential medicines. She said there is extreme poverty in terms of healthcare, education and gender equality which need to be addressed with better governance. Nearly 65 per cent of people in rural areas lack access to medication.

Kewal Handa, chairman of Assocham Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Council, called for effective use of technology to improve healthcare access as a large percentage of population is without insurance cover. Nearly 75 per cent of healthcare investments in recent years have come from private sector, he said.

Many industry experts say healthcare should be treated as an infrastructure industry for tax exemptions. The PPP model is ideal to bridge the demand-supply gap. Private sector expertise coupled with efficiencies in operation and maintenance will lead to improved healthcare services delivery for people.

Other suggestions at the meet included collaborative efforts to bridge the rural and urban divide, developing innovative products and models of service and delivery, increasing health insurance cover and incentivizing healthcare personnel and learning from successful global health practices for better access to healthcare in the country.