Blueprint for a more healthy economy

The saying, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, holds more truth now than ever before. India has embarked on a journey of self-reliance with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan — an economic stimulus of extraordinary proportions to provide financial relief in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, so as to enable business survival and continuity, improve the environment for agriculture, and make India a part of the global manufacturing and services value chain. What we need is a map — an economic blueprint — that will address the need for domestic growth and put in place measures that will make India attractive for foreign investment.

 
Health is wealth
 
Providing a shot in the arm for private domestic investment, the finance minister has deciphered the math behind the stimulus package to ensure that agriculture, business and manufacturing are back on track as we deal with the virus. The lion’s share has been carved out to help micro, small and medium enterprises thrive, bringing about a positive impact on overall industry sentiment. But the pandemic has taught us the need to have better health care systems; our economic revival will depend to a large extent on how we strengthen our health infrastructure.
 

The stimulus package has zeroed in on the need to improve our public health systems. The Centre has committed Rs 15,000 crore for health-related measures so far. While health care infrastructure and service strengthening will be the top priority of the government, the other measures announced include infectious diseases hospital blocks for all districts, and the strengthening of the laboratory network and surveillance, apart from encouraging research. The objectives behind these announcements are clear: Build capacity and prepare India for any future pandemic; boost digital health adoption; and bridge the current gaps in the health system.

 
Given its significance in the current environment, the health care sector must be made a key part of the national agenda by ensuring that all policies hereafter must place the most vulnerable at the centre. At the core of a blueprint must rest the belief that development will be guided by a philosophy that benefits the most vulnerable. Citizens need better access and availability of health infrastructure — the pandemic has underscored the need to address fundamental issues like shortage of doctors and health care professionals, ensure access to facilities for all and build affordability. To give the masses access to health care, we need a national fund for health care that will not only reduce the cost of capital but also bring down the viability gap. Public investment would also be required to set up a data-driven community health care surveillance system that can be used for predictive analytics and preventive interventions.

 
Incentivising the setting up of health care facilities by leveraging public-private-partnerships would be key to building scale across five key health care services, such as hospitals, primary care, diagnostics, medical colleges, and digital clinics or telemedicine. A “National Health Infrastructure Development Fund” could be one way to help boost the private health sector, especially in tier-II andtier-III cities.
 
Attract foreign investment
 
Apart from spurring the domestic economy, the blueprint should also look at investments coming in from abroad.
 
Given the uncertainty in global capital flows, there has been a drying up of foreign direct investment. So, any inflow is a good step to revive India’s post-Covid economy. The government’s efforts should thus look at charting a course that will focus on making India an attractive destination for investments.

 
Investors would look for destinations that have strong governments, a large amount of  entrepreneurial talent, and a developed domestic market with a thriving private sector, apart from low-cost skilled labour. India has what it takes; we just need to package it smartly.
 
We must also identify and focus on key sectors, such as information technology/IT-enabled services, medical tourism and pharmaceuticals, that offer greater competitive advantage, and industries where India offers a large domestic market. Identifying strategic sectors based on market advantage, or the potential to generate employment, or those that add multiplier value creation to other sectors, will help in creating a priority framework. Additionally, we should look at strengthening our manufacturing ecosystem because investors interested in moving their money to India would look for an environment backed by regional industrial frameworks and policies, both at the national and state levels.

 
Redesigning institutions for export promotion by creating new capabilities for increased focus on trade promotion and investment would also provide a thrust to exports. Another measure would be to simplify the existing labour laws, facilitating access to intellectual property protection tools, setting up free zones with tax holidays or special economic zones, and cutting friction in logistics, which could go a long way in attracting global companies to India.
 
If India’s blueprint for economic growth complements its capabilities with more open trade and investment policies, it could not only be a major beneficiary of global investments but it would also provide impetus to Make in India and make India truly atmanirbhar, a win-win situation in a post-Covid-19 world.

 
The writer is deputy CEO, KPMG in India