OPEN Health & Wellness Summit: S. Prasannarajan Says Longevity Must Go Hand in Hand With Universal Healthcare

The pursuit of a longer life must go beyond individual wellness and become a collective responsibility, with governments, the private sector and civil society working together to make healthcare accessible to all, said S. Prasannarajan, Editor of Open Magazine, at the OPEN Health & Wellness Summit in New Delhi.

In his welcome address, Prasannarajan highlighted the growing focus on longevity, preventive healthcare and wellness, noting that the pursuit of better health is increasingly shaped by advances in science, personalised medicine, fitness, nutrition and mental wellbeing.

“The body is the new idol, and we are all idol worshippers,” he said, pointing to the growing emphasis on physical health and the expanding wellness industry.

He observed that the idea of health has evolved beyond simply treating illness, with individuals increasingly combining medical check-ups, exercise, meditation, nutrition and other wellness practices to improve their quality of life.

Prasannarajan also underlined the growing relevance of traditional systems such as Ayurveda, describing its revival as an example of adaptability rather than cultural rigidity. He said Ayurveda should not be seen as an alternative to modern medicine but as another approach to addressing the challenges of physical and mental wellbeing.

Emphasising the role of knowledge in improving health outcomes, he said that greater awareness and advances in healthcare had contributed to improvements in the quality of life.

However, he cautioned that the pursuit of longevity and wellness must not remain limited to the affluent. He called for stronger public investment, political will, private-sector participation and civil society engagement to make universal healthcare a reality.

“Knowledge, at the end of the day, is the ultimate form of health,” he said, underscoring the need for a holistic approach that brings together individual responsibility and collective action.

Prasannarajan concluded by calling for a shared commitment to healthcare, arguing that the pursuit of a healthier society requires coordinated efforts from governments, institutions and individuals.