Government is committed to attainment of highest possible levels of health and wellbeing

The government is committed to the attainment of highest possible levels of health and wellbeing for all its citizens and providing healthcare for all. This was stated by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare at the 15th India Health Summit, an annual flagship event on healthcare, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The theme of this year’s summit was Indian Healthcare – Changing Paradigm. At the function, Anupriya Patel also released a report, Creating the New Ecosystems to Provide Healthcare. Accordingly, one of the biggest policy initiatives for India was the release of National Health Policy, 2017 after a gap of 15 long years which paves the way for Universal Health Coverage and reduction of out-of-pocket expenses. Other policy achievements in the past 4 years include the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017, MCI Ordinance.

Government’s new schemes and programs have contributed to changing the health scenario of the country. Mission Indradhanush yielded very encouraging results which has set the target date of bringing 90 percent full immunization rate in the country to 2018, much before the target date of 2020. Five new vaccines have been added to India’s Universal Immunization Program, bringing the total to twelve. Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program is providing free dialysis services to the poor in the district hospitals in PPP mode and AMRIT pharmacies provide drugs and implants for cancer patients and cardiovascular diseases at 60 to 90 percent discount than the prevailing market rates. Ayushman Bharat is a step toward fulfilling the vision of National Health Policy, 2017 and adopts a continuum of care approach through it two pillars, namely the health and wellness centres aimed at bringing healthcare to the homes of people and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana that provides insurance cover of Rs 5 lakhs per annum for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to more than 10 crore poor and vulnerable families across the country.