A few weeks ago, I stood outside a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in rural Andhra Pradesh. A bright blue water tank gleamed under the sun, funded by a CSR initiative in India. Inside, new healthcare equipment sat neatly labelled “Donated under CSR.”Yet as I spoke to the staff, a different reality emerged. The machines often lay unused, not for lack of patients, but for lack of trained healthcare professionals.
That moment crystallised a truth: Private investment in healthcare can buy equipment, but human capital development keeps primary healthcare alive.
The Government Still Leads the Way
For decades, India’s primary healthcare system—PHCs, CHCs, sub-centres—has been largely funded and run by the government. The National Health Mission (NHM) remains the backbone, allocating thousands of crores yearly for healthcare services from immunisations to maternal care.
But even with these investments, the system struggles:
- Doctor shortages mean many PHCs operate without a full-time MBBS doctor.
- Lab technicians and nurses are in short supply, especially in rural and remote regions.
- ASHA workers, the unsung heroes of rural healthcare, often juggle heavy workloads for modest pay.
CSR: A New Partner on the Block
Enter Corporate Social Responsibility in India (CSR). Over ₹35,000 crore in CSR funds in India flowed last year, with healthcare initiatives grabbing nearly 27% of the CSR budget. Companies are building healthcare infrastructure, donating medical equipment, and funding health camps. In places like Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, CSR funds have built water tanks, bought diagnostic tools, and improved clinic premises (TOI, 2024). In Karnataka, Biocon Foundation runs community health clinics, integrating digital health tools and microfinance to enhance care.
This is progress worth celebrating. But here’s the catch: infrastructure alone won’t transform primary care in India.
The Human Capital Gap: The Real Bottleneck
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.
A PHC can have shiny new machines, but:
- Who’s going to operate the ultrasound machine if there’s no trained technician?
- Who explains a diabetes diagnosis if the doctor isn’t present that day?
- Who ensures digital health records are updated if staff aren’t trained in digital literacy?
Across India, CSR donors often focus on tangible assets—buildings, devices, vehicles—because they’re easy to measure and showcase.
But human capital development is the missing piece:
- Training staff to handle new equipment.
- Upskilling healthcare workers to manage chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
- Hiring data operators for digital healthcare initiatives.
- Building leadership and management skills among PHC staff.
Even in Vizianagaram, doctors report that while equipment donations have been valuable, sustainability hinges on skilled human resources (TOI, 2024).
Why CSR Must Evolve Beyond Infrastructure
The future of CSR in healthcare must look different:
- Invest in training programs. Instead of just funding machines, allocate budgets for workshops, certifications, and mentorship for healthcare professionals.
- Support healthcare workers well-being. Frontline workers face mental and physical strain; CSR could fund wellness programs and health insurance.
- Build digital capacity. As digital health in India expands, PHC staff need IT skills and comfort with telemedicine platforms.
- Create career pathways. Retention improves when workers see professional growth ahead.
CSR can—and should—partner with government healthcare initiatives in India to co-develop human resources strategies that ensure donated assets translate into real health outcomes.
An Opportunity Waiting to Be Seized
India’s primary healthcare system stands at an inflection point:
- The government remains the backbone.
- CSR is injecting new resources and optimism.
- But without investing in human resources, the impact risks being superficial.
Imagine a future where CSR:
- Funds mobile ultrasound vans and trains rural technicians to operate them.
- Equips PHCs with telemedicine kits and trains nurses to conduct virtual consults.
- Supports ASHAs not just with stipends, but with deep knowledge in non-communicable disease management.
This is how CSR can move from one-time donations to transformational healthcare impact.
Conclusion
So, is private investment transforming India’s primary healthcare landscape?
- Yes—but only partly. Infrastructure matters, but people make the system work.
- The next frontier is human capital development. Machines and buildings can’t treat patients alone.
- CSR’s biggest impact will come when it boldly invests in healthcare professionals, training, and sustainable skills development.
Because ultimately, a healthy India won’t just be built on concrete and machines. It will be built on the shoulders of trained, motivated people.
