India's poor no longer forced to sell assets for healthcare: Health Minister

India's Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Tuesday that the country's poorest citizens are no longer compelled to liquidate assets such as homes and land to access medical treatment, marking a significant shift in the nation's healthcare approach.

Addressing the opening session of India Today's HealthWealth Summit 2026, Nadda presented an overview of the country's healthcare system transformation. He emphasized that the government has shifted its focus from treatment-centric models toward preventive care and holistic health approaches.

Nadda attributed this progress to large-scale government health initiatives. The Ayushman Bharat scheme and the Digital Health Mission have been instrumental in providing relief to millions of Indians, he said, by extending financial and digital health protection to vulnerable populations.

The statement reflects India's broader healthcare policy pivot toward making medical services more accessible and financially sustainable for low-income households. By reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs, the initiatives aim to prevent catastrophic financial consequences that historically forced families into asset liquidation and debt cycles.