Join policymakers, healthcare pioneers, wellness experts, and innovators as WION Health Pulse brings together some of the most influential voices shaping the future of healthcare.

From India's role as the world's pharmacy to mental health, AI-driven healthcare, and holistic wellness—this is where the most important conversations on health begin.

WION Health Pulse: India's pharma power | Global healthcare lifeline

As India works towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, public healthcare remains one of the most important pillars of development. But where does India stand today? Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. He is also the Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; and Department of Space, shares his perspective on India's healthcare progress, existing challenges, and what needs to be done to build a healthier and more developed nation by 2047.


WION World Pulse: 'Ayushman Bharat is a unique healthcare insurance cover'

At WION Health Pulse, leading experts explored two of healthcare's most important questions: how artificial intelligence and digital tools are transforming medicine, and whether true healthcare is about curing disease or caring for the whole person. From AI-powered diagnostics and robotic surgery to nutrition, yoga and preventive wellness, the discussions highlighted how technology and human-centred care can work together to create better health outcomes for patients.


WION Health Pulse: AI & Digital integration | Cure vs care

WION Health Pulse | 'There is a paradigm shift on how the world looks at India'

WION Health Pulse | Dr. Jitendra singh: India hailed as leader of preventive care today

Is healthcare only about treating disease, or is it also about caring for the person behind the patient? At WION Health Pulse, leading experts explore the balance between cure and care, discussing the role of nutrition, wellness, yoga, preventive healthcare and compassionate treatment. The conversation highlights why healing is about more than prescriptions and procedures—and how a more holistic approach could shape the future of healthcare.

WION Health Pulse | Cure vs care: Rethinking the future of modern healthcare

WION Health Pulse: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh's Address On Healthcare & Innovation

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh At WION Health Pulse

WION Health Pulse | India's public healthcare journey: How far are we from Viksit Bharat?

Bhutan's Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk has highlighted the country's achievements in improving public health while acknowledging India's significant contribution to healthcare development and reform efforts. Speaking to WION about Bhutan's healthcare journey, Wangchuk said the country has made substantial progress in improving the health and well-being of its people through a system of universal healthcare access. "The progress we have made in improving the health of our people and the invaluable contribution of Bhutan-India cooperation in advancing our shared goals of health, well-being and sustainable development. Health has always been a national priority in Bhutan, guided by our visionary monarchs and enshrined in our constitution. Bhutan's health care system is founded on the principle of universal access. Every citizen is entitled to free health care services, including both modern and traditional medicine. We have achieved notable improvements in maternal and child health, maintained high immunisation coverage and successfully controlled many infectious diseases," Wangchuk said. The Health Minister highlighted Bhutan's emerging health challenges, underscoring the rising demand for specialised health care services, including skilled health professionals, infrastructure gaps, and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. He stated that Bhutan has embarked on important health sector reforms since 2023 to address these challenges, focusing on bolstering governance, promoting innovation, strengthening medical education, and improving primary health care. The minister described India as Bhutan's closest and most trusted partner, emphasising that India's contribution to Bhutan's health sector development has been "profound and far-reaching." One of the most notable examples of cooperation, he said, came during the COVID-19 pandemic when India provided timely assistance under the Vaccine Maitri initiative. "Our primary objective is to ensure that quality health care remains accessible, equitable and sustainable for future generations. Throughout this journey, India has remained Bhutan's closest and most trusted partner. The contribution of India to Bhutan's health sector development has been profound and far-reaching. One of the most notable examples was India's support during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time of great uncertainty, India extended timely assistance through the Vaccine Maitri initiative, providing Bhutan with 550,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. India also continues to play an important role in strengthening Bhutan's health care workforce," he said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">At the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/WIONHealthSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONHealthSummit</a>, Bhutan Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk (<a href="https://x.com/gasebtandin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gasebtandin</a>) underscored the importance of strengthening healthcare systems through innovation, technology, and international collaboration. He highlighted Bhutan’s commitment to improving healthcare… <a href="https://t.co/Xyl1a4WDh4">pic.twitter.com/Xyl1a4WDh4</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2067145360628416673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Bhutan's healthcare workforce</h3>Wangchuk also highlighted India's role in strengthening Bhutan's healthcare workforce. Every year, many Bhutanese students pursue undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in Indian institutions. Additionally, Bhutanese patients continue to access specialised treatment in India for services unavailable in Bhutan. "Every year, many Bhutanese students pursue undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in Indian institutions. In addition, Bhutanese patients continue to access specialised treatment in India for services that are not available in the country. The referral agreement has been critical in ensuring timely access to advanced diagnostics, specialised care and life-saving treatment," the Minister added.&nbsp;"We remain deeply appreciative of India's support in facilitating these services. Another important area of cooperation is health infrastructure development. We are encouraged by the progress being made on the Neltron 8 Billion Multidisciplinary Superspeciality Hospital project, one of the flagship initiatives in our bilateral health cooperation. Once completed, the hospital will significantly strengthen Bhutan's tertiary health care services, particularly in specialised treatment and cancer care. As neighbouring countries sharing close people-to-people ties, Bhutan and India have a common interest in strengthening public health security," he added. Looking ahead, Wangchuk also said that Bhutan and India share a common interest in strengthening public health security through cooperation in cross-border malaria control, disease surveillance, data sharing and coordinated public health interventions. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Bhutan in November 2025, he noted that the visit had reaffirmed the unique and enduring friendship between the two countries and provided renewed momentum for cooperation across priority sectors, including healthcare.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/wion-health-pulse-india-has-a-lot-of-advantages-in-healthcare-dr-carlota-alonso-1781677060633">WION Health Pulse: 'India has a lot of advantages in healthcare': Dr. Carlota Alonso</a> Wangchuk added, "Following my recent meeting with Jagat Prakash Nada, Hon. Minister of Health and Family Welfare of India, at the 79th World Health Assembly, &nbsp;discussions have formally commenced to explore a structured collaboration between All India Institute of Medical Science and Kishore Galpoo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan. Looking ahead, Bhutan remains committed to further strengthening cooperation with India in health infrastructure, workforce development, digital health, disease surveillance, medical education and research." "We are also keen to learn from India's successful health sector initiatives, including Aishman Bharat, the Nikshay Programme for Tuberculosis Control and the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform. The partnership between Bhutan and India in the health sector is built on trust, shared values and common commitment to improving the lives of our people. India's support has been instrumental in shaping Bhutan's health landscape, and we remain deeply grateful for this enduring friendship. We are confident that the strong bonds between our two countries will continue to grow, bringing even greater benefits to the health and well-being of our people in the years ahead," Wangchuk further added.&nbsp;

Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk described India as Bhutan's closest and most trusted partner, emphasising that India's contribution to Bhutan's health sector development has been "profound and far-reaching."

Bhutan's Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk has highlighted the country's achievements in improving public health while acknowledging India's significant contribution to healthcare development and reform efforts. Speaking to WION about Bhutan's healthcare journey, Wangchuk said the country has made substantial progress in improving the health and well-being of its people through a system of universal healthcare access. "The progress we have made in improving the health of our people and the invaluable contribution of Bhutan-India cooperation in advancing our shared goals of health, well-being and sustainable development. Health has always been a national priority in Bhutan, guided by our visionary monarchs and enshrined in our constitution. Bhutan's health care system is founded on the principle of universal access. Every citizen is entitled to free health care services, including both modern and traditional medicine. We have achieved notable improvements in maternal and child health, maintained high immunisation coverage and successfully controlled many infectious diseases," Wangchuk said. The Health Minister highlighted Bhutan's emerging health challenges, underscoring the rising demand for specialised health care services, including skilled health professionals, infrastructure gaps, and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. He stated that Bhutan has embarked on important health sector reforms since 2023 to address these challenges, focusing on bolstering governance, promoting innovation, strengthening medical education, and improving primary health care. The minister described India as Bhutan's closest and most trusted partner, emphasising that India's contribution to Bhutan's health sector development has been "profound and far-reaching." One of the most notable examples of cooperation, he said, came during the COVID-19 pandemic when India provided timely assistance under the Vaccine Maitri initiative. "Our primary objective is to ensure that quality health care remains accessible, equitable and sustainable for future generations. Throughout this journey, India has remained Bhutan's closest and most trusted partner. The contribution of India to Bhutan's health sector development has been profound and far-reaching. One of the most notable examples was India's support during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time of great uncertainty, India extended timely assistance through the Vaccine Maitri initiative, providing Bhutan with 550,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. India also continues to play an important role in strengthening Bhutan's health care workforce," he said.

Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk described India as Bhutan's closest and most trusted partner, emphasising that India's contribution to Bhutan's health sector development has been "profound and far-reaching."

WION Health Pulse: 'Closest and most trusted partner': Bhutan hails India's role in strengthening its healthcare system

The third session at WION Health Pulse was on AI &amp; Digital Health Intergration. The panelist were well known Indian surgeons including Dr Sama Akber, the Director, Oxymed Hospital, Dr Rohit Luthra, Robotic Orthopaedic Surgeon &amp; Director of Arcus Hospital,&nbsp; Dr Nitish Naik, Senior Cardiologist and Professor, Department of Cardiology, AIIMS and Dr Arjun Dang , Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Partner at Dr Dangs Lab LLP.&nbsp;The surgeons spoke to WION Deeksha Teri about integration AI in medical practices and what's the future.&nbsp;Dr Naik was firm that AI and Robotics would not replace the medical practioners but help in aiding them to improve their work.&nbsp;"Robotics and AI will be integrated into medical practice and see us delivering quality care to patients. It will create digital twins. It will help in surgical procedure.Not replace the doctors.&nbsp;Dr Akbar stated that AI will help in accessing remote areas of India which lack specialists. Citing interiors of South India, where a health centres in villages have a single doctors, Akbar said, AI will help doctors in identifying the diseases accurately.&nbsp;"Low tech and easy accessibility. AI should be used in near future to identify diseases. It is a good screening tool to direct them to next step. Help primary doctors to connect with tertiary doctors."&nbsp;Dr Naik had a word of caution for those who rely heavily on AI.&nbsp; "When you start sharing medical reports online, you are sharing personal data online which is not right. There is a breach of privacy. We need to keep a check on that as a lot of data breach occurs and leads to wrongful practices."&nbsp;

At the third session of WION Health Pulse, a panel of prominent Indian medical experts—including Dr Sama Akber, Dr. Rohit Luthra, Dr. Nitish Naik, and Dr Arjun Dang—discussed the future of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics into medicine with WION’s Deeksha Teri.

The third session at WION Health Pulse was on AI & Digital Health Intergration. The panelist were well known Indian surgeons including Dr Sama Akber, the Director, Oxymed Hospital, Dr Rohit Luthra, Robotic Orthopaedic Surgeon & Director of Arcus Hospital, Dr Nitish Naik, Senior Cardiologist and Professor, Department of Cardiology, AIIMS and Dr Arjun Dang , Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Partner at Dr Dangs Lab LLP. The surgeons spoke to WION Deeksha Teri about integration AI in medical practices and what's the future. Dr Naik was firm that AI and Robotics would not replace the medical practioners but help in aiding them to improve their work. "Robotics and AI will be integrated into medical practice and see us delivering quality care to patients. It will create digital twins. It will help in surgical procedure.Not replace the doctors. Dr Akbar stated that AI will help in accessing remote areas of India which lack specialists. Citing interiors of South India, where a health centres in villages have a single doctors, Akbar said, AI will help doctors in identifying the diseases accurately. "Low tech and easy accessibility. AI should be used in near future to identify diseases. It is a good screening tool to direct them to next step. Help primary doctors to connect with tertiary doctors." Dr Naik had a word of caution for those who rely heavily on AI. "When you start sharing medical reports online, you are sharing personal data online which is not right. There is a breach of privacy. We need to keep a check on that as a lot of data breach occurs and leads to wrongful practices."

At the third session of WION Health Pulse, a panel of prominent Indian medical experts—including Dr Sama Akber, Dr. Rohit Luthra, Dr. Nitish Naik, and Dr Arjun Dang—discussed the future of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics into medicine with WION’s Deeksha Teri.

WION Health Pulse: Top Indian doctors outline the future of AI and digital health integration

Artificial Intelligence has rapidly evolved and is now part of everyday life. With the rise of platforms like ChatGPT, it has become one of the most talked-about innovations across industries, including healthcare. As its capabilities continue to expand, one question that has emerged in healthcare is whether AI can replace doctors.&nbsp;At WION Health Pulse submit, the third session explored the growing role of AI &amp; digital integration, Dr Sama Akber, Director, Oxymed Hospital, Dr Rohit Luthra, Robotic Orthopaedic Surgeon &amp; Director, Arcus Hospital, Dr Nitish Naik, Senior Cardiologist and Professor, Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, Dr. Arjun Dang, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Partner at Dr. Dangs Lab LLP took the stage to share their views.<h3>Can AI replace doctors?</h3>Answering the question, “Can AI replace doctors?” &nbsp;Dr. Nitish Naik emphasised that AI is a powerful tool but cannot function autonomously in healthcare. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/wion-health-pulse-india-has-a-lot-of-advantages-in-healthcare-dr-carlota-alonso-1781677060633">WION Health Pulse: 'India has a lot of advantages in healthcare': Dr. Carlota Alonso</a>&nbsp;‘’AI will not be completely autonomous. AI will be completely autonomous, and a robot, will be able to completely supplant a surgeon, and the surgeon will not be there. That would be fictitious because, you know, many things need a human intervention. Although AI, robots can certainly help assist performing tasks. But, we have certainly not reached the state where they can become completely autonomous and completely perform surgery without any human intervention.&nbsp;"But we should realise that AI is a tool that has to be employed on a correct basis because there are umpteen examples where AI can cause hallucinations. AI can fictitiously bring out diagnoses and suggestions that are completely incorrect," he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;Shocking the audience, Naik revealed how AI created a disease that never existed. ‘’In the past, there was a case when AI created a new disease which never existed.&nbsp;‘’Somebody from one of the universities abroad deliberately planted a fake article into a scientific journal. It was a deliberate attempt. It was a disease called, I wonder if you know about it, it's quite famous amongst our community, a disease called 'Bixonimania'. The name itself is incredulous; there is no such disease whatsoever. An article was deliberately planted in the scientific press claiming that there was such a disease. Its symptoms were described and various details were written about it. So, just one article,'' he shared.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/wion-health-pulse-brain-economy-explained-how-1-in-mental-health-can-return-11-dr-rajinder-k-dhamija-explains-1781680718333">WION Health Pulse: What is Brain economy? How $1 invested in mental health can return $11; Dr Rajinder K. Dhamija explains</a>&nbsp;‘’It took only two years for AI to generate a whole lot of literature behind it. In fact, once AI recognised this as a condition, it autonomously created information such as the disease prevalence, the symptoms, how it should be recognised, and how it should be treated. If you Google it now, you'll read about it. So, you cannot completely depend on AI because AI draws information from a whole lot of sources. Remember that health information, if it is to be used for generating any sort of background knowledge, has to come from medical journals. But if AI takes information from social media or the lay press, then its interpretations and whatever discussions it forms around that information may be completely incorrect."

Artificial Intelligence is transforming healthcare, but experts say it cannot replace doctors. At the WION Health Pulse Summit during a session on AI & Digital Integration, here's what doctor has shared about AI integration. 

Artificial Intelligence has rapidly evolved and is now part of everyday life. With the rise of platforms like ChatGPT, it has become one of the most talked-about innovations across industries, including healthcare. As its capabilities continue to expand, one question that has emerged in healthcare is whether AI can replace doctors. At WION Health Pulse submit, the third session explored the growing role of AI & digital integration, Dr Sama Akber, Director, Oxymed Hospital, Dr Rohit Luthra, Robotic Orthopaedic Surgeon & Director, Arcus Hospital, Dr Nitish Naik, Senior Cardiologist and Professor, Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, Dr. Arjun Dang, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Partner at Dr. Dangs Lab LLP took the stage to share their views. Can AI replace doctors? Answering the question, “Can AI replace doctors?” Dr. Nitish Naik emphasised that AI is a powerful tool but cannot function autonomously in healthcare. Also read: WION Health Pulse: 'India has a lot of advantages in healthcare': Dr. Carlota Alonso ‘’AI will not be completely autonomous. AI will be completely autonomous, and a robot, will be able to completely supplant a surgeon, and the surgeon will not be there. That would be fictitious because, you know, many things need a human intervention. Although AI, robots can certainly help assist performing tasks. But, we have certainly not reached the state where they can become completely autonomous and completely perform surgery without any human intervention. "But we should realise that AI is a tool that has to be employed on a correct basis because there are umpteen examples where AI can cause hallucinations. AI can fictitiously bring out diagnoses and suggestions that are completely incorrect," he said. Shocking the audience, Naik revealed how AI created a disease that never existed. ‘’In the past, there was a case when AI created a new disease which never existed. ‘’Somebody from one of the universities abroad deliberately planted a fake article into a scientific journal. It was a deliberate attempt. It was a disease called, I wonder if you know about it, it's quite famous amongst our community, a disease called 'Bixonimania'. The name itself is incredulous; there is no such disease whatsoever. An article was deliberately planted in the scientific press claiming that there was such a disease. Its symptoms were described and various details were written about it. So, just one article,'' he shared. Also read: WION Health Pulse: What is Brain economy? How $1 invested in mental health can return $11; Dr Rajinder K. Dhamija explains ‘’It took only two years for AI to generate a whole lot of literature behind it. In fact, once AI recognised this as a condition, it autonomously created information such as the disease prevalence, the symptoms, how it should be recognised, and how it should be treated. If you Google it now, you'll read about it. So, you cannot completely depend on AI because AI draws information from a whole lot of sources. Remember that health information, if it is to be used for generating any sort of background knowledge, has to come from medical journals. But if AI takes information from social media or the lay press, then its interpretations and whatever discussions it forms around that information may be completely incorrect."

Artificial Intelligence is transforming healthcare, but experts say it cannot replace doctors. At the WION Health Pulse Summit during a session on AI &amp; Digital Integration, here's what doctor has shared about AI integration.&nbsp;

WION Health Pulse | Can AI replace doctors? Dr. Nitish Naik reveals how AI invented a disease that never existed

Dr Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of India, who leads the Ministry of Science &amp; Technology and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said that India is currently hailed as a global leader in preventive healthcare. "We were the first to cme out witj the DNA vaccine in COVID, then also offer it to 30 other countries. Now we have HPV vaccine, which is known to be effective in the cervical, more so common in female," Singh told WION at the Health Pulse on Wednesday (June 17).&nbsp;He also said that India has made a niche for itself in producing devices and heart valves that are cost-effective without compromising on quality. "We are also attracting medical tourism from outside. So that's a huge change in nature," Singh added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-health-pulse-president-of-guyana-irfaan-ali-joins-rhythm-of-the-new-health-order-1781678524516">WION Health Pulse: President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali joins rhythm of the new health order</a>

"Anything available, in any part of the world, is also available over here [India]. And that too at much cost effective price. Dr Singh said that this has resulted in making India the most preferred healthcare destination across the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/wion-health-pulse-the-world-s-healthcare-confluence-charting-the-future-of-health-innovation-1781674366893">WION Health Pulse: Charting the future of health innovation</a>&nbsp;"Hemophilia, we are the first to have come out with a successful gene driven trial, genetic remedy for hemophilia, which is a clotting disorder and why I am saying that this room will find it interesting is that you go back to the history of medicine," Dr Singh said.&nbsp;"It is said that the first ever case of hemophilia, the deficiency of clotting factory eight were discovered in one of the cousins of Queen Victoria. So, not only that we have qualified in disease, we have been eating from India, namely the tropicl diseases in disease. We are now also in a position to find solutions about diseases or solutions for diseases which originated from the West," Singh added. &nbsp;

India is emerging as a global leader in medical tourism and preventive healthcare, recognised for its cost-effective medical devices and pioneering vaccines like the COVID-19 DNA vaccine and HPV vaccine.

Dr Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of India, who leads the Ministry of Science & Technology and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said that India is currently hailed as a global leader in preventive healthcare. "We were the first to cme out witj the DNA vaccine in COVID, then also offer it to 30 other countries. Now we have HPV vaccine, which is known to be effective in the cervical, more so common in female," Singh told WION at the Health Pulse on Wednesday (June 17). He also said that India has made a niche for itself in producing devices and heart valves that are cost-effective without compromising on quality. "We are also attracting medical tourism from outside. So that's a huge change in nature," Singh added. Also read: WION Health Pulse: President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali joins rhythm of the new health order

India is emerging as a global leader in medical tourism and preventive healthcare, recognised for its cost-effective medical devices and pioneering vaccines like the COVID-19 DNA vaccine and HPV vaccine.

WION Health Pulse: India emerging as preferred healthcare destination across the world, says Dr Jitendra Singh

Mental health has emerged as one of the most pressing yet under-recognised public health challenges of our time. Addressing this growing concern, experts came together at the WION Health Summit during session 2: &nbsp;Mental Health - The Invisible Pandemic to discuss the rising burden of mental health disorders and the urgent need for awareness, intervention and support systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;To discuss Mental Health, &nbsp;Dr Rajinder K. Dhamija, Director and Professor of Neurology at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), explains the new concept of brain economy, brain skill and brain capital.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/wion-health-pulse-mental-health-is-often-ignored-dr-jitendra-nagpal-1781680364857">WION Health Pulse: 'Mental health is often ignored in Indian household' says Dr Jitendra Nagpal</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/WIONHealthSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONHealthSummit</a> | &quot;In India, health is not a right, but mental health is,&quot; says Dr Rajinder K. Dhamija (<a href="https://x.com/DrRKDhamija?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrRKDhamija</a>), Professor of Neurology and Director, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) <a href="https://t.co/NZ4SmTfa59">pic.twitter.com/NZ4SmTfa59</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2067145644113027091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

‘’There is a concept called Brain economy. If your population is mentally healthy, your GDP will increase exponentially. It is called the Brain economy. If one dollar is invested in one's mental health has a return of $11 in the productivity. So this is something that is happening globally.'' &nbsp;Concluding the session, Dr. Dhamija shared the highlights of the discussion and said, "In India, health is not a right, but mental health is."&nbsp;

Drawing attention to the scale of the problem, Dr Dhamija said that IHBAS, one of the country's largest mental health institutions, sees more than 3,000 patients daily. He stressed that stigma and low mental health literacy remain major barriers to treatment. "People need to understand that there is a need for mental health intervention, but there is less demand for it. So we have to create that demand. We all understand there is a problem, but how many people come forward to seek professional help? So, that is where we are lagging behind, and where health literacy is, too. Where we can work on &nbsp;and conclave like this are very important for people to come forward and seek professional help.‘’ he said.&nbsp;

At the WION Health Summit, experts discussed mental health in session 2 titled Mental Health: The Invisible Pandemic, highlighting it as a major yet often overlooked public health challenge.

Mental health has emerged as one of the most pressing yet under-recognised public health challenges of our time. Addressing this growing concern, experts came together at the WION Health Summit during session 2: Mental Health - The Invisible Pandemic to discuss the rising burden of mental health disorders and the urgent need for awareness, intervention and support systems. To discuss Mental Health, Dr Rajinder K. Dhamija, Director and Professor of Neurology at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), explains the new concept of brain economy, brain skill and brain capital. Also read: WION Health Pulse: 'Mental health is often ignored in Indian household' says Dr Jitendra Nagpal

At the WION Health Summit, experts discussed mental health in session 2 titled Mental Health: The Invisible Pandemic, highlighting it as a major yet often overlooked public health challenge.

WION Health Pulse: What is brain economy? How $1 invested in mental health can return $11; Dr Rajinder K. Dhamija explains

As urban population in India increasingly becomes aspiration, there is a rise in mental health issues. Score of Indian households opt to not have children, just to pursue highfliying corporate jobs but many complain of loneliness and depression in later years silently.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the second session of WION Health Pulse, Dr. Rajinder K. Dhamija, Director and Professor of Neurology at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) and Dr. Jitendra Nagpal, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and In Charge of the Institute of Mental Health &amp; Life Skills Promotion at Moolchand Medcity addressed the growing rate of mental health issues in urban India and the need to destigmatize conversation on mental health and reach out when help is needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;When Dr Nagpal was asked how the urban population is striving to achieve more and yet finding it difficult to strike a balance in life and mental well being, the expert stated that introspection is needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;“More and more the young population is asking us about the the difference between happiness and success? Aspiration will remain. But for what? Financial backup is important. But while we are skyrocketing into achievement-oriented life, the fallout has been simultaneously about the pandemic of loneliness,” said Dr Nagpal.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The fallout is that the rise in non-communicable disorders in urban India is also the highest,” rued the expert.&nbsp;The pyschaitrist said that in India, families form the backbone for any individual. However, while we teach and motivate the young generation to achieve high goals, Dr Nagpal insisted that there is a need for introspection.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Are we preparing the future for just good jobs, not for life? We need to have answers to these questions.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Both Dr Dhamija and Dr Nagpal revealed that the government is taking active role in promoting more health centres that now also deal with mental health.&nbsp;

How to strike a balance between aspiration and mental well-being. During the second session of WION Health Pulse, which focused on Mental Health, panellist Dr Jitendra Nagpal stated that there is a need for introspection. 

As urban population in India increasingly becomes aspiration, there is a rise in mental health issues. Score of Indian households opt to not have children, just to pursue highfliying corporate jobs but many complain of loneliness and depression in later years silently. In the second session of WION Health Pulse, Dr. Rajinder K. Dhamija, Director and Professor of Neurology at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) and Dr. Jitendra Nagpal, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and In Charge of the Institute of Mental Health & Life Skills Promotion at Moolchand Medcity addressed the growing rate of mental health issues in urban India and the need to destigmatize conversation on mental health and reach out when help is needed. When Dr Nagpal was asked how the urban population is striving to achieve more and yet finding it difficult to strike a balance in life and mental well being, the expert stated that introspection is needed. “More and more the young population is asking us about the the difference between happiness and success? Aspiration will remain. But for what? Financial backup is important. But while we are skyrocketing into achievement-oriented life, the fallout has been simultaneously about the pandemic of loneliness,” said Dr Nagpal. “The fallout is that the rise in non-communicable disorders in urban India is also the highest,” rued the expert. The pyschaitrist said that in India, families form the backbone for any individual. However, while we teach and motivate the young generation to achieve high goals, Dr Nagpal insisted that there is a need for introspection. “Are we preparing the future for just good jobs, not for life? We need to have answers to these questions.” Both Dr Dhamija and Dr Nagpal revealed that the government is taking active role in promoting more health centres that now also deal with mental health.

How to strike a balance between aspiration and mental well being. During the second session of WION Health Pulse, which focused on Mental Health, panellist Dr Jitendra Nagpal stated that there is need for introspection.&nbsp;

WION Health Pulse: Non-communicable disorders in urban India are on the rise, says Dr Jitendra Nagpal

The world's healthcare confluence, charting the future of health innovation, witnessed insightful discussions during the opening session, India – The World's Pharmacy, at the WION Health Summit underway at Taj, New Delhi. The session was moderated by Molly Gambhir and featured distinguished speakers: Dr Carlota Alonso, Founder &amp; CEO, European Institute for Healthcare Excellence (EIHE), Dr Shubnum Singh, Principal Advisor &amp; Health Policy, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Advisor &amp; GC Member, Health Sector Skills Council (HSSC), Dr K Srinath Reddy, Founder &amp; Former President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Chancellor, PHFI Institute of Public Health Sciences.&nbsp; Speaking at the summit, Dr Carlota Alonso spoke on India's growing global healthcare leadership as they discussed India’s role in ensuring equitable public healthcare access, and a conversation on India’s pharmaceutical sector&nbsp;‘’India has a lot of advantages because of its expertise, its leadership and also its potential to scale, and I do think that we have to look back at the pandemic. I know everyone talks about the pandemic. But I think the world became aware that we have a dependency on the manufacturing centres,‘’ Alonso said.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;India has a lot of advantages in comparison with other countries because of its expertise and leadership,&quot; says Dr Carlota Alonso, Founder &amp; CEO, European Institute for Healthcare Excellence (EIHE), as she addresses at <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/WIONHealthSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONHealthSummit</a> <a href="https://t.co/HngfXs9aRe">pic.twitter.com/HngfXs9aRe</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2067124740150763534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"India sits at a very advantageous platform because of the digital strength, the manufacturing strength and the medical capacities," says Dr Alonso.&nbsp;&nbsp;‘’I feel very proud and honored to be living in India and to be part of this ecosystem. People in Western countries often think that Europeans or Westerners come to India to solve India’s problems. But Noo. I always say I come to India to learn and to see what can be taken from India to Western countries,'' she said.&nbsp; She further emphasised India's unique strengths in driving the future of healthcare innovation, saying:&nbsp;The discussion focused on India's role as a global healthcare and pharmaceutical powerhouse, exploring how the country's digital capabilities, manufacturing ecosystem, and medical expertise are shaping the future of global health.

At the WION Health Summit in New Delhi, the opening session titled "India  - The World's Pharmacy" brought together leading healthcare experts to discuss India's growing role in global healthcare and innovation

The world's healthcare confluence, charting the future of health innovation, witnessed insightful discussions during the opening session, India – The World's Pharmacy, at the WION Health Summit underway at Taj, New Delhi. The session was moderated by Molly Gambhir and featured distinguished speakers: Dr Carlota Alonso, Founder & CEO, European Institute for Healthcare Excellence (EIHE), Dr Shubnum Singh, Principal Advisor & Health Policy, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Advisor & GC Member, Health Sector Skills Council (HSSC), Dr K Srinath Reddy, Founder & Former President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Chancellor, PHFI Institute of Public Health Sciences. Speaking at the summit, Dr Carlota Alonso spoke on India's growing global healthcare leadership as they discussed India’s role in ensuring equitable public healthcare access, and a conversation on India’s pharmaceutical sector ‘’India has a lot of advantages because of its expertise, its leadership and also its potential to scale, and I do think that we have to look back at the pandemic. I know everyone talks about the pandemic. But I think the world became aware that we have a dependency on the manufacturing centres,‘’ Alonso said.

At the WION Health Summit in New Delhi, the opening session titled "India &nbsp;- The World's Pharmacy" brought together leading healthcare experts to discuss India's growing role in global healthcare and innovation

WION Health Pulse: 'India has a lot of advantages in healthcare': Dr. Carlota Alonso

A viewer from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, shares her views on whether wearables and health apps are revolutionising healthcare or simply flooding doctors with data

Join us at WION Health Pulse on June 17 in New Delhi

WION Health Pulse | Are wearables revolutionising healthcare or overloading doctors with data?

#WIONHealthPulse | A viewer from Hyderabad, Telangana, shares her thoughts on whether India has become a global healthcare powerhouse

Join us at WION Health Pulse on June 17 in New Delhi

WION Health Pulse | Has India become a global healthcare powerhouse?

Are wearables and health apps revolutionising healthcare, or simply flooding doctors with data? 

A viewer from Mumbai, Maharashtra, says, "These health tech devices will actually help to save lives"

Join us at WION Health Pulse on June 17 in New Delhi

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A student from Chennai responds to the question: “Is getting into medical school harder than surviving it?”

WION Health Pulse | Is getting into medical school harder than surviving it?

A viewer from Mumbai, Maharashtra, responds to the question: “What’s harder: getting into medical school or surviving it?”

Join us at WION Health Pulse on June 17 in New Delhi

WION Health Pulse | Medical school: Harder to get in or harder to survive?

A viewer from Hyderabad responds to the question: “What’s Harder: Getting Into Medical School Or Surviving It?”

WION Health Pulse | What's difficult: Getting into medical school or surviving it?

A viewer from Chennai responds to the question: “Getting Into Medical School Vs Surviving It: What’s Actually Harder?”


WION Health Pulse | Getting into  medical school vs surviving it: What’s actually harder?

A viewer from Mumbai, Maharashtra, shares his views on how health apps and wearables are changing modern healthcare—but are they improving patient care or overwhelming doctors with excessive data?


WION Health Pulse | Wearables revolutionising healthcare or overloading doctors with data?

Medical students share their views on the advantages India has in medical education that no other country can easily replicate

A medical practitioner says, "Performing 15–20 surgeries a week over a period of 8–10 years has given me something that no amount of technology can manufacture—strong clinical instincts. I think that's what sets India apart"

Join us at WION Health Pulse on June 17 in New Delhi

"The ratio of healthcare workers to patients is quite different compared to Western countries," says a medical student while answering a question on the advantages India has in medical education that no other country can easily replicate

Join us at WION Health Pulse on June 17 in New Delhi

WION Health Pulse | What's harder: Getting into medical school or surviving it?

#WIONHealthPulse | What does a healthier future look like?

Join policymakers, healthcare pioneers, wellness experts, and innovators as WION Health Pulse brings together some of the most influential voices shaping the future of healthcare.

From India's role as the world's pharmacy to mental health, AI-driven healthcare, and holistic wellness—this is where the most important conversations on health begin

June 17th 2026 | New Delhi

WION Health Pulse: Health Is Wealth 

WION Health Pulse: Has India become a global healthcare powerhouse?

"India has so many different kinds of cases and medical conditions that many Western countries do not have," says a viewer from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, about the advantage India has in medical education that no other country can easily replicate

WION Health Pulse: The advantage India has in medical education

A viewer from Mumbai, Maharashtra, shares his views on how AI is taking medical education to new heights and discusses the unique advantages India holds in medical education.

WION Health Pulse: How AI is taking medical education to new heights

"AI does create a better doctor, but only when doctors rely on their own knowledge and use AI as a tool for enhancement," says a viewer from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, sharing her thoughts on whether AI is creating better doctors or making them more dependent on technology

WION Health Pulse: Is AI creating better doctors or more dependent ones? 

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