A healthy nation is non-negotiable for India’s tryst with development—that was the crux of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan’s keynote at a prominent health forum. His words carried weight, reminding leaders that GDP growth means little without a robust human capital.
Breaking down challenges, he addressed sedentary lifestyles fueled by desk jobs and digital addiction. Non-communicable diseases now claim more lives than infectious ones, per recent WHO data he cited.
Radhakrishnan pushed for ‘Health for All’ through community health workers and AI-driven diagnostics. He lauded the success of POSHAN Abhiyaan but called for scaling up to cover urban slums.
International benchmarks were invoked—Singapore’s model of universal coverage and preventive care. ‘Invest in health today, reap prosperity tomorrow,’ he urged, tying it to job creation in wellness sectors.
Stakeholders reacted positively, with industry leaders pledging investments. The speech has sparked nationwide discussions on integrating health into school curricula and workplace policies. In closing, Radhakrishnan envisioned a ‘Swasth Bharat’ as the launchpad for global leadership.