The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee called upon all stakeholders in the health sector to make universal healthcare a reality. The President was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of the 6th FICCI HEAL 2012, Annual International Conference in Delhi today (August 28, 2012).

The International Healthcare Conference is organized annually by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The theme of this year's conference is 'Universal Healthcare: Dream or Reality?"

The President stated that good health of its people is the very foundation of a nation. A healthcare system would need to be country-specific and India would need to look at achieving universal health coverage based on its own perspective and requirements. India's medical healthcare system has to be developed to cater to medical requirements of all sections of society, in rural as well as in urban areas. The President emphasized that merely constructing hospitals was not enough. Human resources were required to make them functional and effective. There was a need to augment medical colleges, nursing institutions, and training schools for paramedical professions.

President Pranab Mukherjee also highlighted the issue of affordability of universal healthcare. He said that technology based initiatives including telemedicine could be employed to broaden the reach of healthcare. Ways to encourage cooperation between the public and private sectors in achieving health goals also need to be identified and preventive healthcare emphasized.

The President expressed the hope that the Conference would comprehensively look at all these and other inter-related issues for making available accessible, affordable and effective healthcare to people.

Among others present on the occasion were Dr. Ashok Walia, MoS for Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Mr. R.V. Kanoria, President FICCI, Ms. Sangita Reddy, Chairperson, FICCI Health Services Committe and Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospital Group, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Secretary General, FICCI, Dr. Nandkumar Jairam, Co-chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Ms. Ameera Shah, Co-chair, FICCI Health Services Committee.

This release issued at 1700 hrs