In order to bridge the huge demand-supply gap in the domestic healthcare sector and make India an universal healthcare service provider, the government should accord national priority sector status to healthcare industry, said Preetha Reddy, managing director, Apollo Hospitals.
Speaking to the FE, she said, ?The primary obstacle hampering development of healthcare services has been the inadequate return on investments. By according national priority sector status to the industry, India can not only attract huge capital for development of physical infrastructure and development of educational institutions for medical, paramedical and allied academics but also will create a conducive atmosphere for production of medical equipment, devices and consumables while catalysing research and development.?
She said the demand for healthcare is not related to consumer discretionary spending, but to meet the demand of increasingly affluent and educated patient population?s improved healthcare services.