Government Expanding Health Infrastructure, Meeting Requirement Of Medical Professionals: Union Health Minister

New Delhi: The government is following a holistic approach to health by not only upgrading and expanding infrastructure but also creating more institutions to meet the requirement of medical professionals, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday (December 29). Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stones for two critical care blocks and a BSL-3 laboratory in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, he also stressed the need for collective efforts between the Centre and states to meet the healthcare needs of people. He assured the central government’s support to states in their healthcare endeavours.

Mr Mandaviya also inaugurated seven integrated public health laboratories in different districts of Andhra Pradesh on Friday (December 29). He said,

“The BSL laboratory, the seven integrated public health laboratories and the two critical care blocks, once operational, will play a pivotal role in providing quality medical services to the people of the state.”

The event was attended by Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Vidadala Rajini. These facilities will give a boost to the healthcare infrastructure of Andhra Pradesh and help in addressing the challenges posed by health emergencies, the health ministry said. Mr Mandaviya said,

It is our government’s responsibility and commitment to provide quality healthcare infrastructure and services to the people as only a healthy country can aspire to become a developed country.

Also Read: Union Health Minister Launches ‘MedTech Mitra,’ An Initiative To Enhance Medical Devices Sector

The Union health minister added that these new facilities would help in increasing the “ease of attaining” medical services. He said,

The Union government is following a holistic approach to health by not only upgrading and expanding healthcare infrastructure in the country but also creating more medical and nursing colleges to meet the requirement of medical professionals.

Mr Mandaviya highlighted that the number of AIIMS has increased to 23 while the number of MBBS and nursing seats have doubled in the country.

State Health Minister Rajini said the new facilities under the PM-ABHIM (Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission) will help in further strengthening healthcare facilities in Andhra Pradesh.

Appreciating the support from the Centre, she said a “substantial allocation of Rs 1,271 crore to Andhra Pradesh under PM-ABHIM will build resilience capable of responding to health emergencies”.

Also Read: Revolutionising Healthcare And Empowering Patients With Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.