New Delhi,: India is staring at a looming health crisis as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart ailments and cancer surge to epidemic levels, Padma awardee doctors have warned at a recent Pacific One Health session.
Padma Shri Dr. D.S. Rana, Chairman, Board of Trustees at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, stressed the need for universal access and strict ethical regulation.
“Our ultimate goal should be universal healthcare. Despite progress, deep disparities remain. India needs stronger ethical practices and regulatory courage, particularly in drug pricing and hospital costs, to make healthcare equitable,” he said.
Highlighting the growing heart disease burden, Padma Shri Dr. Praveen Chandra, Chairman of Interventional and Structural Heart Cardiology at Medanta, noted that the heart is the “common pathway” for many illnesses.
“Timely angioplasty within the golden hour can save countless lives. Advanced cardiac interventions are now available even for patients in their 80s and 90s,” he said, underscoring the importance of prevention.
On diabetes, Padma Shri Dr. Anoop Misra, Chairman of Fortis C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences, expressed alarm:
“One in three Delhi residents is diabetic, and another 30% are pre-diabetic. This is nothing to be proud of. Prevention and early control are critical. While drugs like Ozempic may help, lifestyle changes and awareness remain our strongest tools,” said the former AIIMS professor.
Padma Shri Dr. Mohsin Wali, Senior Consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, called for trust-driven models of care. Citing his hospital’s non-profit approach, he said it reflects the principle of “Healthcare As It Should Be.” “By adopting such models, we can reduce the NCD burden and move closer to a healthier India,” he added.
Dr. Swadeep Srivastava, President and Co-Founder of Pacific OneHealth, said healthcare must shift “from a privilege to a promise — rooted in ethics, powered by innovation, and centred on the patient.”
He stressed the need to seamlessly integrate preventive, primary, and tertiary care so that “no one is left behind.”
The experts concluded that while India has advanced in medical technology and treatment, the unchecked rise of lifestyle diseases and poor preventive screening are pushing the country toward a health emergency.
