Some of the country’s finest minds share their views about the health resolution that India needs to make for a healthy and happy new year.

Three years of winter precede Ragnarök, the Twilight of the Gods, in Scandinavian or Norse mythology. And then, once the world as we know it ends, a new incarnation will be created, as per the popular legend.

After nearly three turbulent years of coping with a tenacious virus that caused an unprecedented global health crisis, are we ready for a new beginning? Not another ‘new normal’ but a new way of being.

At the recent Health of India Summit 2022, presented by YouTube Health and hosted by HealthLEADS, we asked some of the country’s finest minds to share their suggestions on building a robust public healthcare system. What should the health wishlist for India entail?

Here’s what the experts had to say about the health resolution that India needs to make for a healthy and happy new year:

Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, Founder (Past) President and Honorary Distinguished Professor of Public Health, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)

As we move towards the sustainable development goals of 2030, it’s important to recognise that health needs to be measured as an important indicator of the country’s success. India has to clearly communicate and adopt health impact assessment across sectors.

Neeraj Jain, Country Director, PATH India

Over the last two years, we have seen people who normally would never talk to each other collaborate on important health initiatives. In 2023, India should take these collaborations forward and get the private sector, development partners, donors and all stakeholders together to further strengthen the healthcare system.

Dr. Kavita Singh, Director, South Asia, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)

R&D has to be on the agenda. R&D collaborations, beyond regional boundaries, can bring amazing results. Given the deep domain knowledge which exists in different parts of the country, India needs to facilitate regional collaborations with R&D as one of the main pillars of the healthcare system.

Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, Public health and policy expert

For 2023, India must invest in collecting health data, interpreting that data in a scientific manner, and using the insights for timely action.

Dr. Jaya Shreedhar, Asia Media Health Advisor, Internews & Co-author of ‘Let’s Talk Vaccines’

India needs to adopt health audit across sectors. Get thought leaders from all sectors onboard and convey a sense of urgency that all the investment made thus far can crumble very quickly, if we don’t act now. A small but determined group of decision-makers can make a difference.

Dr. Indira Behara, Vice President, Global Health Strategies

Set specific targets – whether it is nutrition, tuberculosis, or cervical cancer. Second, focus on empowering women because they make up half of the country’s population. And it can do wonders for the future of India’s health.

The best way to predict the future, goes a popular adage, is to create it. As 2022 comes to a close, it’s time to look ahead at the year that awaits us. The year that we wish to create.

For the coming year, I wish for strong political will, greater policy innovation, bigger investments in research, and meaningful collaboration among all stakeholders to create community-led sustainable health solutions. What, according to you, should be India’s health resolution for 2023?