December 11, 2025
In his Hindustan Times column, OHT’s Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan argues that India’s long-term economic ambitions cannot be achieved without much stronger investment in health. The government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 goal envisions India becoming a prosperous, self-reliant economy with living standards comparable to high-income nations. But Dr. Laxminarayan cautions that economic growth alone does not make a country “developed.”
Drawing on global evidence, he explains that neglecting population health can turn growth into fragility rather than progress. Poor health reduces productivity, strains public finances, and weakens resilience to economic and environmental shocks. In recent years, India has stepped back from strong central investment in public health, leaving states to carry much of the burden. This risks a race to the bottom, as states compete for industry by weakening environmental and health protections.
Dr. Laxminarayan’s core message is clear: lasting prosperity depends on investing in people’s health first, not treating it as a by-product of growth. “Health and environmental quality are not rewards of prosperity; they are its foundations. The seriousness with which India aligns public-health spending and enforcement of environmental quality to its aspiration of becoming a developed nation will determine whether Viksit Bharat remains a vision — or becomes a reality.”
Read here.
