Health Parliament stands at the forefront of healthcare transformation—an agile think tank revolutionizing health systems through cutting-edge policy innovation, visionary leadership development, and strategic multi-stakeholder engagement. Established by acclaimed policymaker Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, the organization collaborates actively with governments, global entities like the WHO and UN, and industry titans to catalyze evidence-driven reforms.
At its core lies a Proprietary Leadership Development Model designed to nurture grassroots changemakers poised to redefine healthcare delivery. Through this model, Health Parliament equips emerging leaders with the tools, insight, and influence needed to drive systemic change from the ground up.
Its flagship campaigns reflect both scope and impact. The kNOw Series dismantles medical myths through accessible health education. Just On You (JOY) empowers individuals to become health champions within their households. Meanwhile, the Public Task Force for Accountable Healthcare pushes for transparency and accountability across the sector.
Complementing these initiatives are high-level platforms such as the CEOs Roundtable and the Public Health Transformation Summit—forums that convene powerhouses from hospitals, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, insurance, and health tech to shape the sector’s future.
In an exclusive dialogue with The Interview World at Startup Mahakumbh, Dr. Manpreet Kaur, Chief of Staff at Health Parliament, offers deep insights into the organization’s mission and impact. She discusses pivotal policy recommendations submitted to the government, spotlights the distinguished leadership steering the board, and sheds light on persistent challenges afflicting India’s healthcare landscape.
Here are the most compelling insights from her powerful conversation.
Q: Can you elaborate on the idea behind the ‘Health Parliament’—its objectives, structure, and how it aims to impact public health policy?
A: Health Parliament is a leading health policy think tank established in 2019 by Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, the principal author of India’s National Health Policy 2017. A distinguished policymaker, Dr. Gupta also served on the National Education Policy Committee and held the position of Advisor to the Union Health Minister.
At Health Parliament, our mission is rooted in the belief that real-world leaders should shape real-world policies. Anchored in this vision, we produce rigorous primary and secondary research reports, draft actionable policy recommendations, and formally submit them to relevant government bodies.
But we don’t stop at policy papers. We drive impact by engaging stakeholders across every stage of their professional journey. From students and early-career professionals to senior executives, we facilitate dialogue through curated events. Our flagship CEO Roundtables, now in their seventh edition, provide a high-impact platform for thought leadership and strategic discussion.
Expanding our footprint, we recently launched the Regional Leadership Development Forum, a dynamic initiative designed to mentor and empower emerging leaders within our community. The inaugural forum was held in Delhi-NCR on 2nd March, featuring prominent voices such as Dr. K. Madan Gopal, a senior health policy expert; Animesh Mishra, Distinguished System Architect at NVIDIA; and Dr. Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director of Ujala Cygnus. Thirty selected members participated in an intimate, high-value mentoring session focused on leadership and innovation in healthcare.
In line with our commitment to democratize policy participation, we also launched the world’s first mobile app-based think tank. This app enables professionals—regardless of background or geography—to contribute meaningfully to the healthcare ecosystem. Members can pitch ideas, join discussions, write thought pieces, and access a wide array of resources not only from Health Parliament but also from our partner organizations.
Whether you are a healthcare enthusiast or an industry veteran, Health Parliament offers a platform to collaborate, learn, and lead. Join us as a Professional or Professional Plus member—and become a voice that shapes tomorrow’s health policies today.
We currently have a presence in 67 countries, including India. If you’re interested in learning more, simply visit our website to explore who we are, what we do, and how you can get involved.
Q: How many recommendations have you submitted to the government so far?
A: We currently have 30 to 35 comprehensive reports in place. Our work began with a focus on women’s health, specifically targeting ASHA and Anganwadi workers and the Ayushman Bharat Mission. Building on that foundation, we went on to develop India’s first-ever guideline that adopts a life-cycle approach to women’s health.
Until now, government initiatives primarily addressed women’s health from menarche to menopause. However, our guideline recommended a paradigm shift—advocating for a holistic view that spans from birth to the end of life. We outlined specific health priorities, screenings, and tests for each stage: the first five years of life, adolescence, early adulthood, midlife, and post-60 years.
To ensure accessibility, we translated this guideline into a mobile application called SheApp, which is available for free on Google Play. This app empowers users with age-specific health guidance and promotes proactive, lifelong well-being for women.
Q: Who are the prominent personalities on your board who have contributed significantly to the field of healthcare?
A: Our Board of Directors includes some of the most distinguished names in healthcare and technology. Among them is Bakul Patel, currently a Senior Director at Google and formerly a Director at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On our Advisory Board, we’re honoured to have the Chairman of the WHO Foundation and the CEO of the American Telemedicine Association. Most recently, Dr. Srinath Reddy joined our advisory team. For those familiar with public health, Dr. Reddy needs no introduction—he is the Founder of the Public Health Foundation of India and the former Head of Cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in shaping national health policy, having worked closely with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and several union ministers.
In addition, our advisory board features eminent experts from institutions like Harvard Medical School and other globally respected organizations. Collectively, it’s not just a board—it’s an exceptional and dynamic community of thought leaders driving transformative change in global health.
Q: What key gaps or challenges do you observe in the Indian healthcare sector?
A: When I speak about the Indian healthcare system, I begin with a simple truth—the fundamentals are still missing. While we engage in conversations around digital health and cutting-edge technologies, we continue to overlook the very foundation: awareness, access, and how we fundamentally perceive healthcare.
Currently, both the government and the private sector—including pharmaceutical companies—largely approach health through the lens of illness. This sickness-centric mindset dominates policy, strategy, and delivery. What we urgently need is a shift toward a preventive and preemptive model. We must ask: how can we stop disease before it starts? How can we strengthen the system to identify and mitigate risks early?
To that end, we are working to restructure the healthcare ecosystem around prevention. We’re also urging pharmaceutical companies to move beyond merely promoting drugs and disease management. Instead, they must invest in health literacy, prevention strategies, and responsible innovation. The same goes for the medtech sector, which should align with this broader, proactive vision. In essence, our approach prioritizes getting the basics right—only then can digital health and advanced technologies truly deliver meaningful, equitable impact.
