THE WEEK Health Summit 2025 | ‘India ready to lead the world in health innovation’: Bansuri Swaraj

Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj laid out an expansive vision for a healthier and more inclusive India, emphasising stronger primary healthcare, technology-driven diagnostics, and a renewed focus on women’s health. “Health cannot be taken lightly,” she said at THE WEEK Health Summit 2025. She stressed that India must build a “robust, formidable healthcare campaign” that leaves no citizen behind.

In a session moderated by Pratul Sharma, THE WEEK’s Senior Assistant Editor, Swaraj said the Modi government has already started preparing for the challenges of a rapidly ageing population, highlighting expansions in medical infrastructure and insurance coverage. “We now have more AIIMS, and the need of the hour is to deploy technology smartly so that patients across India, and not just in metros, benefit,” she said.

One of the flagship assurances she underlined was the Rs 5 lakh annual health cover, which she said already supports every senior citizen above 70 years of age. Complementing this safety net, the government’s push for primary healthcare through Arogya Mandirs is creating robust, accessible touch points for preventive and routine care across the country, she highlighted. Recently conducted nationwide cancer screenings, she added, were an example of how a proactive approach can improve early detection rates.

Swaraj also pointed to India’s expanding global footprint in health diplomacy. Recalling her visits to African nations after Operation Sindoor, she said, “Every country thanked India for supplying Covid-19 vaccines when the world needed them the most.” This, she said, is a testament to how India is “emerging as a leader on the world map”.

Touching on the legacy of her mother, the late Sushma Swaraj, she said the former external affairs and health minister’s compassion and commitment to public welfare continue to guide India’s health policies. “She was the driving force behind the initial momentum for strengthening AIIMS, and she worked ardently for menstrual health,” Swaraj said. Menstrual hygiene, she added, remains an essential but under-discussed aspect of public health.

A significant part of her address was dedicated to women’s health, which she described as the foundation of a healthy society. “A woman is the fulcrum of the family. When she is healthy, the family is healthy,” she said. The government’s 15-day campaign Swasthya Nari, Sashakt Parivar—offers free diagnostics at the nearest Arogya Mandir to encourage women to seek timely care without financial barriers. Under Ayushman Bharat, she said, women continue to be the primary beneficiaries due to higher awareness and rising health-seeking behaviour.

Swaraj highlighted that 16 crore patients have already benefited from life-saving interventions such as transplants under government schemes. The success of the CoWIN platform, she said, demonstrated how technology can eliminate gaps in vaccine access and ensure transparency in public health programmes.

She also addressed the mental health concerns of India’s youth, warning that “today’s crisis is the chase for likes”. The antidote, she said, lies in communication, mindfulness, and physical activity. “Yoga and Pilates are the need of the hour,” she said, advocating for a holistic health approach that integrates traditional practices like panchakarma with modern medicine.

On the growing appetite for health technology among Gen Z and millennials, Swaraj was optimistic: “They are using everything from smartwatches to glucose monitors whatever makes life healthier and easier.”

Looking ahead, she said the single biggest change she is excited about is the rise of AI in healthcare diagnostics. Citing a recent case where a friend faced delayed cancer treatment due to a diagnostic error, she said AI-driven systems could be transformative. “These errors are heartbreaking. Timely medicine exists but accuracy in diagnosis is key.”

As India moves towards a more digitised, inclusive, and preventive healthcare model, Swaraj’s message was clear, health is empowerment, and “a purposeful life is a powerful life. Sixty-five is no longer an age to retire”.