India's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 will depend as much on skilled and compassionate healthcare workers as on hospitals and technology, Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said on Tuesday while inaugurating the GKNM Group College of Nursing in Coimbatore.

Addressing students, healthcare professionals and trustees, he said quality healthcare and quality education are the two pillars of a healthy nation, calling for a stronger healthcare workforce to improve medical services, expand preventive care and meet the country's growing health needs.

Highlighting the central role of nurses, the Vice-President said they contribute far beyond clinical treatment. "They make patients feel safe, secure and cared for. Along with medicines, their compassion and concern play an indispensable role in healing," he said, urging nursing students to serve with confidence, dedication and courage.

Medical research has consistently shown that adequate nurse staffing and compassionate care improve patient recovery, reduce hospital complications and enhance treatment outcomes. As India faces rising rates of chronic illnesses, an ageing population and increasing demand for healthcare, experts say expanding nursing education will be critical to sustaining quality care.

The Vice-President also pointed to the impact of the Ayushman Bharat programme, describing it as a globally recognised initiative that has expanded healthcare access. He said nearly 44 crore people have received health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, while the ongoing digitisation of health services is helping make healthcare more accessible.

He stressed that preventing disease is as important as treating it, urging greater efforts to eliminate anaemia among women and children, improve maternal nutrition and promote healthy growth from infancy through adolescence. Preventive healthcare focuses on stopping illness before it develops through better nutrition, vaccination, early screening and healthy lifestyles, reducing both disease burden and healthcare costs.

Calling organ and eye donation "noble acts", Shri Radhakrishnan urged greater public awareness, noting that donated organs can save lives while eye donation can restore sight.

He praised the G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Charitable Trust, whose 50-bed hospital established in 1952 has grown into a 750-bed multi-specialty institution, and expressed hope that it would soon establish a medical college to train future healthcare professionals committed to serving the poorest and most vulnerable.