At the Hyderabad Literary Festival, Dr. N. Krishna Reddy, CEO- ACCESS Health International; Professor Guy Marks, global expert in lung health and non-communicable diseases; and Dr. Surabhi Shrivastava, Chief Scientific Officer at the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society came together to examine a pressing question: How healthy are our cities, really?
Hyderabad is widely regarded as a hub for advanced healthcare and medical tourism. Yet, as the panel emphasized, access to world-class hospitals does not automatically translate into equitable health outcomes.
India’s life expectancy has doubled since independence from nearly 35 years to over 70: but urban India now faces a dual burden: chronic diseases, infectious threats, air pollution, and fragmented care systems.
Dr. Reddy highlighted a fundamental truth: “The purpose of a health system is to meet the health needs of all people, at all times – what they want, when they want, how they want.”
The conversation emphasized that innovation alone is not enough; the real challenge lies in building integrated, citizen-centered systems that ensure timely, affordable, and equitable access to care. From eliminating tuberculosis through proactive screening and strong primary care, to responsibly scaling digital health and AI with interoperability and evidence at the core, the message was clear: cities need stronger institutions, empowered communities, and smarter policy implementation – not just more technology. As urban India evolves, strengthening health systems must remain central to achieving better, more resilient health outcomes for all.