<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that life-savers like medicines, vaccines and medical devices were weaponised during the Covid-19 pandemic, and asserted that his government has been consistently trying to minimise India's dependence on foreign countries in the health sector.</p>.<p>Addressing a post-budget webinar on 'Health and Medical Research', Modi said India's health sector was marred by the lack of an integrated approach and long-term vision for decades but his government has not confined it to the health ministry alone and has dealt with it with the "whole of government" outlook.</p>.<p>Our entrepreneurs should ensure India doesn't have to import any technology and becomes self-reliant, he said, highlighting various measures taken by his government to boost entrepreneurship in the field.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-nhm-workers-strike-from-march-6-likely-to-hit-healthcare-services-1197333.html" target="_blank">Karnataka: NHM workers' strike from March 6 likely to hit healthcare services</a></strong><br /><br />The prime minister said making treatment affordable has been a top priority, adding that the 'Ayushman Bharat', a government health insurance scheme, and 'Jan Aushadhi' centres, where medicines are sold at cheaper rates, have saved citizens Rs 80,000 crore and Rs 20,000 crore respectively.</p>.<p>The country's pharma sector earned global confidence during the pandemic, Modi said, urging the sector to build and capitalise on the trust.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | </strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/bbmp-budget-2023-24-bluru-to-get-dedicated-health-commissioner-1196731.html" target="_blank"><strong>BBMP Budget 2023-24: B'luru to get dedicated health commissioner</strong></a></p>.<p>The health sector should be seen with a pre-Covid and post-Covid dividing line, he said, noting that the pandemic showed that even developed systems of prosperous countries are destroyed during such a crisis.</p>.<p>His government is not focusing on health care alone but the overall wellness of citizens, he said.</p>.<p>Now critical health care infrastructure is being taken to tier 2 cities and smaller habitations, leading to the development of a health ecosystem there, he said.</p>.<p>The government is also focussing on ensuring that people get treatment, including testing facilities, near their homes, he added.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that life-savers like medicines, vaccines and medical devices were weaponised during the Covid-19 pandemic, and asserted that his government has been consistently trying to minimise India's dependence on foreign countries in the health sector.</p>.<p>Addressing a post-budget webinar on 'Health and Medical Research', Modi said India's health sector was marred by the lack of an integrated approach and long-term vision for decades but his government has not confined it to the health ministry alone and has dealt with it with the "whole of government" outlook.</p>.<p>Our entrepreneurs should ensure India doesn't have to import any technology and becomes self-reliant, he said, highlighting various measures taken by his government to boost entrepreneurship in the field.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-nhm-workers-strike-from-march-6-likely-to-hit-healthcare-services-1197333.html" target="_blank">Karnataka: NHM workers' strike from March 6 likely to hit healthcare services</a></strong><br /><br />The prime minister said making treatment affordable has been a top priority, adding that the 'Ayushman Bharat', a government health insurance scheme, and 'Jan Aushadhi' centres, where medicines are sold at cheaper rates, have saved citizens Rs 80,000 crore and Rs 20,000 crore respectively.</p>.<p>The country's pharma sector earned global confidence during the pandemic, Modi said, urging the sector to build and capitalise on the trust.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | </strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/bbmp-budget-2023-24-bluru-to-get-dedicated-health-commissioner-1196731.html" target="_blank"><strong>BBMP Budget 2023-24: B'luru to get dedicated health commissioner</strong></a></p>.<p>The health sector should be seen with a pre-Covid and post-Covid dividing line, he said, noting that the pandemic showed that even developed systems of prosperous countries are destroyed during such a crisis.</p>.<p>His government is not focusing on health care alone but the overall wellness of citizens, he said.</p>.<p>Now critical health care infrastructure is being taken to tier 2 cities and smaller habitations, leading to the development of a health ecosystem there, he said.</p>.<p>The government is also focussing on ensuring that people get treatment, including testing facilities, near their homes, he added.</p>