Noida: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasised the need for India’s healthcare model to shift from treatment to prevention, adding that timely screening and early diagnosis can play a critical role in reducing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
Singh outlined that the next phase of India’s healthcare journey must focus on keeping people healthier and identifying health risks before they develop into serious medical conditions.
Inaugurating the Mahajan Imaging & Labs’ Integrated Centre of Excellence in Diagnostics in Noida in Noida on Thursday, he highlighted how the Ayushman Bharat scheme has helped India make significant progress in expanding access to healthcare. “More than 5 crore people have been connected through the programme, and in Uttar Pradesh alone, over 80 lakh beneficiaries have received healthcare support,” he said.
Speaking at the launch, Singh emphasised how India could lead the way into the next phase of healthcare innovation by combining scientific excellence with accessibility and compassion rather than following global healthcare trends.
Mahajan Imaging & Labs has expanded its diagnostic services to Uttar Pradesh with the launch of this Integrated Centre of Excellence in Diagnostics.
The Noida facility brings together advanced imaging, pathology, genomics, molecular diagnostics and personalised health assessments at one location, serving patients from Noida, western Uttar Pradesh and the Delhi NCR. This launch marks Mahajan Imaging & Labs’ first facility in Uttar Pradesh. It also strengthens the organisation’s presence in one of the NCR’s fastest-growing healthcare markets and extends its integrated diagnostic model to a wider patient population.
While the Defence Minister lit the ceremonial lamp along with Gautam Buddh Nagar MP Dr Mahesh Sharma, former Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Member of NITI Aayog, television anchor and journalist Rajat Sharma, Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj, and actor Sharmila Tagore were present among other dignitaries.
“India’s healthcare model must increasingly move from treatment to prevention. Preventive healthcare is the future, and timely screening and early diagnosis will play a critical role in reducing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. Treating illnesses at an advanced stage not only places a greater burden on patients and families but also increases pressure on the healthcare system and the economy,” the Defence Minister said.
He added that India has a unique opportunity today, with talented doctors and scientists, strong technology capabilities and a healthcare sector that is increasingly embracing innovation. “Artificial intelligence, advanced imaging, molecular diagnostics and digital health can strengthen this approach, provided technology continues to work alongside medical expertise and human compassion.”
“The availability of advanced diagnostic capabilities closer to people in Uttar Pradesh will strengthen access to specialised healthcare and support the state’s wider healthcare ecosystem. A healthier and stronger India will be an important foundation for the vision of Viksit Bharat,” he further said.
In his March address at the Post-Budget Webinar on Health, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted the need to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and move towards preventive and holistic healthcare, including early diagnosis. This assumes greater significance as non-communicable diseases account for 63% of deaths in India, with cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases among the leading contributors.
The government has expanded the national NCD network to 770 District NCD Clinics, 6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres and 233 Cardiac Care Units, reflecting the wider shift towards earlier detection and management of disease.
Padma Shri Dr Harsh Mahajan, Founder & Chairman, Mahajan Imaging & Labs and Mentor, FICCI Health Services Committee, said, “For more than 35 years, our journey has been shaped by the many changes we have witnessed in medicine, technology and diagnostic healthcare. This occasion is not simply about adding another centre to our network, but about taking the experience, expertise and trust we have built over the years closer to more people.”
He added: “Diagnostics today can help us identify disease earlier, understand it in greater detail and guide treatment with far greater precision. Yet, its fundamental purpose remains unchanged. A patient comes to us seeking answers, and a doctor comes to us seeking clarity. Our responsibility is to provide both with information that is accurate, clinically meaningful and delivered with sensitivity. Technology alone does not create excellence. Its real value comes when it is combined with experienced professionals, strong clinical understanding and a sense of responsibility towards every patient.”
Ritu Mahajan, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Mahajan Imaging & Labs, said, “When we began designing our new centre at Spectrum Mall, Sector 75, Noida, I wanted it to feel different from a conventional medical space. The décor draws from Indian culture and the traditions of Uttar Pradesh, with elements of our rich heritage reflected throughout the interiors. At the same time, the space has been created to bring a sense of calm, warmth and privacy for patients. People often arrive at a diagnostic centre carrying anxiety and uncertainty while waiting for answers, and I have always believed that the surroundings can influence how they experience that journey.”
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