Lauding the slew of initiatives undertaken by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in the country, President Ram Nath Kovind on December 28 said there are templates from the US that can be adapted for the benefit of patients.

He cited the example of the system of first responders and paramedics that is well developed in US and said it can help meet a medical situation at a very early stage and save lives as well prevent the need for more complicated interventions.

"This is a mechanism the government has been working hard to put in place in India as well," he said at the XII Global Health Care Summit at Mumbai. Noting that the association has imparted first responder training in several states of the country, including Maharashtra, he said ,"such training can be of immense use after road accidents or when dealing with an emergency. I would urge you to take this process further and deeper, especially in rural areas, where there may be a considerable distance between the patient and a well-equipped multi-speciality hospital." 

Likening public health and its provision to a perfect triangle of quality, cost and access, he said one of the ways it can be achieved is by building alliances, between doctors and patient groups, between civil society and industry, between researchers and practitioners and ultimately between countries.

"India's experience with producing affordable but high quality drugs and medicines offers a huge advantage as the world and America itself seeks to drive down the cost of health-care and health insurance," he said. The President further said the countries can also collaborate to seek answers to global pandemics and emerging zoonotic diseases.

Another shared challenge is that of lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, and he pointed out the and management of lifestyle diseases offers scope for collaboration with traditional Indian wellness practices. Speaking of improving the education, he pointed out that to expand and reform it, several new medical colleges are being set up and the Medical Council of India has been superseded by new Board of Governors consisting of eminent doctors.

He added that under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, more than 4,600 medical stores have been set up across the country to provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all, particularly the poor and disadvantaged.

Besides, the cost of medical implants and several life saving drugs has also been reduced, he said. "However, the most far reaching initiative in healthcare is the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, recently launched by the government...It is particularly aimed at those at the bottom of the pyramid, the less-than-privileged 40 per cent of our fellow citizens," he said.