Hailing India’s handling of Covid-19, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said the world recognised that this country could innovatively produce vaccines and assist other countries too.

“India’s handling of Covid-19 exemplifies the best practices beyond doubt. The Janta curfew was an innovative and imaginative idea that was implemented very successfully. The whole country came together to cheer the Covid warriors because they were those who were prepared to lay down their lives to save the lives of the people at large. We lit lamps to honour them,” he said at the second International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment.

He said it was satisfying for him to note that India vaccinated 220 crore people and gave assistance to other countries through the “Maitri Vaccine Initiative”.

He also hailed the government’s “Ayushman Bharat” initiative, saying this was benefitting 1.4 billion people in the country effectively and medicines were being given at affordable rates. “Because of ‘Ayushman Bharat’, we have in the country paramedical centers, diagnostic centers, and the growth of medical colleges, nursing colleges and clinics. This touches the lives of those who are fiscally vulnerable. If they have to suffer on account of their affordability, then the growth of their children suffers. The family economy goes haywire,” the vice president said.

Technology, he said, was a game-changer towards good health and happiness. Campaigns like the “Swachh Bharat Mission” have changed the landscape of India. Every house now has a toilet. “What we never thought or imagined, now we are on our way to getting fresh potable water in all homes. Industrial growth, start-ups and entrepreneurship have grown, and this is generating mass movement for securing health and happiness for the people at large,” he added.

Dhankhar noted that over 1.5 lakh health and wellness centers have been established across the country. This was generating huge opportunities for entrepreneurs and skilled human resources. This was turning out to be a game-changer for economic growth. He also noted that over 33.8 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts have been created under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and 50 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

The affordability of medicine to an ordinary man was of critical consequence. This has been done through over 9000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras set up across the country.

The vice-president said India was an example in the world as it was making use of technology to provide efficient services to people. Earlier there used to be long queues to deal with even payment of bills. In the health sector, a revolution has taken place and over eight crore teleconsultations have been conducted through e-Sanjeevani, the National Telemedicine Service of India.

Tuberculosis was a sure killer in the 1950s and 1960s. “But now when a patient goes and tells them that he or she has tuberculosis, he or she will be given a nine-month kit. This is a qualitative jump,” he added.

“If India is on the rise at the moment as never before, this is on two great concepts. That has been highlighted by our PM – we are not in the era of expansionism and he indicated to the world at large that war is not a solution to any problem,” the vice president said.