New Delhi: On October 29, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an array of transformative initiatives, including development projects totaling ₹12,850 crore, and extended the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above. This significant healthcare expansion was announced on the auspicious occasion of the ninth Ayurveda Day, celebrating Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of medicine.
In a major boost to traditional medicine, PM Modi inaugurated the second phase of India’s first All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi. This new phase includes a Panchakarma hospital, Ayurvedic drug manufacturing pharmacy, sports medicine unit, and a high-tech startup incubation center. Additionally, he introduced advanced drone services to expand healthcare access across 11 AIIMS hospitals, allowing for quicker medical response and supply delivery in remote areas. The Prime Minister also launched a helicopter emergency medical service from AIIMS Rishikesh to further enhance emergency healthcare delivery.
To strengthen preventive healthcare, the PM launched the U-WIN portal, which will digitally manage vaccinations for pregnant women and children up to age 16, ensuring timely protection against 12 preventable diseases. A dedicated portal for healthcare professionals and institutions was also introduced to create a central repository of practitioners across the country.
Among the other projects launched, three new medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh and service expansions at various AIIMS locations were inaugurated. Key facilities like a Super Specialty Block in Chhattisgarh and a Critical Care Block in Odisha were also opened, alongside five new nursing colleges and 21 critical care blocks in states like Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
The Prime Minister also laid the groundwork for ESIC hospitals in cities like Faridabad, Karnataka’s Bommasandra, and Meerut, expected to benefit around 55 lakh ESI beneficiaries. Other notable projects include central research institutes for yoga and naturopathy, centers of excellence in medical research, and high-tech production facilities under the "Make in India" PLI scheme in states like Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, which will manufacture essential medical devices and drugs to bolster the nation’s self-reliance in healthcare. This sweeping healthcare initiative marks a major step in advancing India’s healthcare infrastructure and extending quality care to millions across the country.