Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Monday that India is establishing new standards in medical research while creating local solutions to worldwide health issues via gene therapy and nuclear medicine. The country’s health system is becoming increasingly self-sufficient, he noted during the 22nd convocation at King George’s Medical University in Lucknow. India’s health infrastructure has grown more independent, reachable, cost-effective, up-to-date and focused on citizens than before, with local answers now addressing global challenges through gene therapy, nuclear medicine and similar innovations. Scientists have shown an indigenous gene therapy for haemophilia, and researchers in Pune have created advanced nanomedicine for breast cancer treatment. The Production Linked Incentive scheme has boosted local production of medical devices. In 2024 the first domestic macrolide antibiotic Nafithromycin was developed to treat community-acquired bacterial pneumonia effectively. In 2023 the first indigenous MRI machine was created, offering affordability, lightness, speed and high-field performance. High-quality medicines are now available at low cost through over 19,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras nationwide. Medical staff were urged to prioritise their own wellbeing amid high-stress conditions. Healthcare in Uttar Pradesh has improved markedly in nine years, with medical colleges rising from 17 before 2017 to 81 today, plus two operational AIIMS facilities that exceed the one-district-one-medical-college target. Government efforts have greatly expanded medical education to ensure sufficient doctors and specialists for better care quality.
