India’s Health Infrastructure Strengthened in Recent Years, Says PM Modi at Post-Budget Webinar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the expansion of medical colleges, Ayushman Bharat services and telemedicine while addressing a post-Budget webinar on March 9
- By PharmaNews Live Desk
- New Delhi
- Mar 09, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 9 said India’s health infrastructure has expanded significantly in recent years, citing the establishment of medical colleges in hundreds of districts and the growing reach of public healthcare schemes. The remarks were made while addressing a post-Budget webinar themed “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas – Fulfilling Aspirations of People.”
The webinar was part of a series aimed at discussing effective implementation of Union Budget announcements across key sectors including education, health, tourism, sports and culture.
Modi said the country has made progress in expanding healthcare access and infrastructure. “In the last few years, the country’s health infrastructure has become stronger,” he noted, adding that new medical colleges have opened across many districts.
Ayushman Bharat and Arogya Mandirs expand reach of healthcare
The Prime Minister said healthcare services are reaching deeper into rural areas through government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the development of Arogya Mandirs, which provide primary healthcare services across the country.
He stated that the expansion of these initiatives has helped extend the reach of health services to villages and underserved regions. “Through Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Arogya Mandirs, the reach of health services has been extended to every village,” Modi said.
Preventive and holistic healthcare vision
Modi also emphasised India’s broader focus on preventive and holistic healthcare. He said the country is pursuing a health model that combines modern medicine with traditional wellness systems.
Highlighting the global recognition of traditional practices, the Prime Minister noted, “Our Yoga and Ayurveda are becoming popular across the entire world.”
Telemedicine and digital healthcare expansion
The Prime Minister also referred to the role of digital technologies in improving healthcare access, particularly in remote regions. Telemedicine platforms, he said, have helped connect patients with doctors across distances.
At the same time, he stressed the need to make digital healthcare tools easier to use and more widely known among the public. “There is still a need to increase awareness and ease of use in tele-medicine,” Modi said.
Emerging opportunities in the care economy
During the address, Modi also spoke about the growing global demand for healthcare and caregiving services, describing it as part of an expanding “care economy.”
He urged health sector experts and policymakers to develop new training models and partnerships to prepare India’s workforce for emerging opportunities in the sector.
The Prime Minister also called for stronger collaboration between policymakers, academia and industry to ensure that budget announcements in sectors such as healthcare and education translate into practical outcomes on the ground.