Gagan Dhawan.
Preventive healthcare must be treated as a national economic priority alongside manufacturing, technology and infrastructure, according to Delhi-based entrepreneur Gagan Dhawan.
Speaking on the need to build a healthier India, Dhawan said that economic growth cannot be sustained without a healthy and productive population. While sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electronics manufacturing and digital innovation continue to drive India's economic transformation, he believes the country's long-term success will equally depend on the health of its people.
"A nation's greatest strength is not just its infrastructure or technology. It is the health of its citizens. A healthier workforce is naturally more productive, innovative and resilient, making preventive healthcare an investment rather than an expense," Dhawan said.
India has emerged as the world's fourth-largest economy and is working towards its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. However, experts believe that lifestyle diseases could become one of the biggest challenges to sustaining this growth if preventive measures are not prioritised.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, more than 101 million Indians are living with diabetes, the second-highest number globally. The Indian Council of Medical Research has estimated that nearly 136 million Indians are pre-diabetic, placing millions at risk of developing the disease in the coming years. Cardiovascular diseases continue to account for nearly one-third of all deaths in the country. Dhawan noted that a large share of this burden is diet-related, and that dietary shift is among the most direct levers available for prevention.
Dhawan noted that these figures represent not only a public health concern but also a significant economic challenge. Rising healthcare costs, lower workplace productivity, increased absenteeism and the financial burden on families have direct implications for India's long-term economic growth.
He pointed out that global studies have consistently shown that investments in preventive healthcare generate substantial economic returns through improved productivity, reduced healthcare expenditure and a healthier workforce.
According to Dhawan, India's healthcare approach must gradually shift from treating illnesses after they occur to preventing them before they develop. He advocated for regular health screenings, greater awareness about nutrition, improved mental health support, workplace wellness programmes and increased physical activity as part of everyday life.
He also highlighted the growing role of technology in transforming preventive healthcare. Digital health records, wearable health devices, telemedicine and artificial intelligence are making early diagnosis and continuous health monitoring more accessible than ever before.
"Technology is enabling healthcare to become proactive rather than reactive. Combined with greater public awareness, it has the potential to significantly reduce the burden of lifestyle diseases," he said.
Dhawan also emphasised that India possesses a unique advantage through its centuries-old wellness traditions. Practices such as yoga, meditation and mindful living, once regarded primarily as cultural practices, are now receiving increasing global recognition and scientific validation.
He believes integrating these traditional wellness approaches, including India's growing vegan and plant-based food culture, with modern medical science and digital healthcare can help India build one of the world's strongest preventive healthcare ecosystems.
Businesses, too, have an important responsibility in this transformation, he said. Employee wellness initiatives should no longer be viewed as optional corporate benefits but as strategic investments that improve productivity, reduce absenteeism and strengthen workforce retention.
Referring to India's rapidly expanding startup ecosystem, Dhawan observed that long working hours and increasing stress have made burnout a growing concern among entrepreneurs and professionals. He said sustainable business success requires equal attention to personal wellbeing and professional excellence.
Education, he added, must also become an important pillar of preventive healthcare. Encouraging healthy eating habits, physical fitness and emotional wellbeing from an early age can help future generations lead healthier lives while reducing the country's disease burden over time. He pointed to nutrition education as central to this, particularly awareness around whole-food, plant-based diets, which he believes can significantly reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve long-term health outcomes at a population level.
Dhawan further pointed to the rapidly expanding global wellness economy, valued at more than USD 6 trillion according to international estimates. He said India is well positioned to emerge as a global leader in preventive healthcare, nutrition, digital health services, wellness tourism and fitness by leveraging its medical expertise, entrepreneurial ecosystem, technological capabilities and traditional wellness heritage.
Calling for a collaborative approach, he said governments, businesses, educational institutions and individuals all have a role to play. Public policy can encourage preventive screenings and health awareness, organisations can invest in employee wellbeing, schools can build healthier habits among children, and individuals can make simple lifestyle changes, starting with what's on their plate, that collectively create a healthier nation.
"The India of 2047 will not be judged only by the size of its economy but also by the health, resilience and quality of life of its people. If human capital is truly India's greatest strength, protecting that capital must become a national priority," Dhawan said.
He added that preventive healthcare is not simply about reducing hospital visits or extending life expectancy. "It is about creating a healthier workforce, stronger businesses and a more prosperous economy. India's next major economic opportunity may well come from ensuring that millions of Indians remain healthier, happier and more productive."
As India continues its journey towards becoming a developed nation, experts increasingly believe that investing in prevention today could prove just as important as investing in innovation, infrastructure and industry for securing the country's economic future.
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