Focus on Preventive Healthcare and Mental Health is Essential: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Speaking at the Health and Wellness Summit 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that being healthy does not merely mean the absence of disease, but focusing on overall physical and mental well-being.
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, discussed the evolving approach to health during the 'Health and Wellness Summit 2026'. He emphasized that staying healthy is not just about being disease-free; rather, the focus must now shift toward preventive healthcare as well as physical and mental health.
Dr. Singh noted that over the last decade, India has developed a broader understanding of health, prioritizing Ayurveda, Yoga, and wellness centers alongside modern medicine. He asserted that a healthy young generation will play a central role in achieving the goal of a 'Developed India' (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. According to him, health now encompasses aspects such as physical and mental fitness, work-life balance, and the living environment.
Addressing the changing health challenges in India, he mentioned that the average life expectancy was approximately 45 years at the time of independence, which has since seen a remarkable increase. However, this increase has been accompanied by a shift in the nature of diseases. Heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and other lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases have become more prominent. He clarified that the next phase of healthcare services should be based on prevention and early diagnosis rather than relying solely on treatment.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the expansion of medical education under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which are efforts to make healthcare services more accessible and reduce the financial burden on families. He pointed out the critical role of science and technology in developing affordable solutions tailored to local needs. As an example, he cited how Indian laboratories contributed to the development of indigenous vaccines by rapidly sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 genome during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister stated that it is now necessary to translate scientific research into products that benefit the general public. Through translational research, affordable diagnostics, biosensors, and drug delivery technologies can be developed. Additionally, he praised programs like 'UMMID' for the early screening of genetic disorders in newborns and pregnant women.
In conclusion, Dr. Singh called for continuous collaboration among medical professionals, researchers, and the industry to build a healthy India, which he described as an integral part of the journey toward Developed India 2047.
