Dr Nupur Kohli, Founder Director, Netherlands-India Information Services – NIIS Health, talks about how India can become an important healthcare partner for the Netherlands
As the Indian healthcare is witnessing changes at a rapid pace, from primary care to healthcare expenditure, to health insurance, there are also a growing number of opportunities. The Indian healthcare market is likely to grow from $100 billion to $350 billion over the next one decade. With the allocation of Rs 52 800 crore by the Modicare budget to healthcare this year, the Netherlands and Dutch healthcare providers and companies can be a great partner to collaborate with to implement and improve several plans in the Indian healthcare system.
The Netherlands was ranked first as the Best Performing European Healthcare System by the Euro Health consumer index in 2017 and fourth at the World Economic Forum ranking of the most competitive economies of the world. Looking at the country size of the Netherlands, with these accomplishments, they are a capable partner to work with.
From May 23 to 25, 2018, a Dutch trade mission headed by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte came to India, accompanied by four Dutch ministers, Carola Schouten, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management and Bruno Bruins, Minister for Medical Care and Sport. The healthcare sector was well represented by 28 companies and policy makers of both the public and private sector and over the course of three packed days the Dutch healthcare representatives got to interact with representatives from public and private Indian healthcare parties, as well as NatHealth India, with Taskforce Health Care in the lead from the Dutch side.
The major topics in the discussions were healthcare accessibility, optimising healthcare through smart solutions, innovation for affordable healthcare, vaccine partnership and development and healthcare capacity building.
Healthcare accessibility is one of the fundamentals of healthcare delivery and we looked at increasing the accessibility in remote and rural areas through smart eHealth , telemedicine, medical devices and hospital solutions, among which helipads. High definition video consultation is being implemented in the Netherlands and can serve as a first contact point between healthcare professional and patient.
Smart solutions increase accessibility and can optimise healthcare, but also make it more affordable and increase the quality of healthcare. Here we discussed how Dutch smart eHealth, hospital design, mobility and vitality, public health and biopharma solutions can improve healthcare in an Indian context. There are many ways to design and develop a smart solution, but how to implement these solutions, on what scale and in what time frame is important to think about.
Innovation for affordable healthcare looked at what the perfect conditions are to transform research and inventions into meaningful healthcare innovation, which improve people’s lives. How can the Netherlands and India combine forces to realise these? Also in healthcare the industry, knowledge institutions and universities have to work closely together to realise this innovation.
India is an important partner for the Netherlands when looking at for example cost-effective vaccine development. The existence of affordable, innovative vaccine technology is equal to improvement in global health. In this way India and the Netherlands can work together to explore new partnerships to improve global health.
Building capacity to increase and improve the healthcare workforce through quality education, e-learning and e-training solutions, but also smart eHealth will establish this. For all challenges to create taskforces with members from both countries for partnerships and collaboration should bring proper solutions. A clear definition of what is needed and what can be offered from both Indian and Dutch partners is necessary in a good collaboration.