Field-Driven Strategies Shape Responsive Public Health Ecosystem: Nadda

The summit serves as a premier platform for states and Union Territories to showcase path-breaking innovations and best practices in the health sector, with a focus on advancing inclusive, accessible, and affordable healthcare across the country.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Nadda commended the Haryana government for its leadership in advancing healthcare innovations.

He said the summit reflects how practical, field-driven strategies can collectively shape an effective and responsive public health ecosystem.

Highlighting the significance of the initiatives launched on the occasion, Union Minister Nadda added that these interventions are designed to ease the working environment of frontline healthcare workers while enhancing service delivery and improving health outcomes.

The focus, he emphasised, is on enabling systems that are efficient, integrated, and responsive to the needs of both providers and beneficiaries.

Reflecting on India's healthcare transformation over the past decade, the Union Minister said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has made significant strides towards the vision of 'Viksit Bharat'.

A key milestone in this journey has been the shift from a predominantly curative approach to a comprehensive and holistic healthcare framework, he added.

He highlighted that while the earlier National Health Policy of 2002 focused largely on curative care, the National Health Policy, 2017, brought a paradigm shift by incorporating preventive, promotive, curative, and palliative aspects of healthcare, thereby ensuring a more inclusive and people-centric system.

He underscored the critical role of more than 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which now serve as the first point of contact for nearly 1.5 billion people.

These centres have significantly strengthened preventive healthcare, including large-scale screening for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancers (oral, breast, and cervical) for individuals aged above 30 years.

Emphasising the need to move towards consolidation and quality enhancement, Union Minister Nadda noted that while more than 50,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), there is a need to further scale up quality certification and strengthen regular audits to ensure consistent performance and improved outcomes.

Highlighting key health achievements, the Union Health Minster said that institutional deliveries have increased from 79 to 89 per cent, reflecting improved access to maternal healthcare services.

The maternal mortality ratio has seen a significant decline, with sustained progress over the years.

Citing recent global estimates, the Union Minister noted that India has achieved a 79 per cent decline in under-five mortality and a 73 per cent decline in infant mortality.

He highlighted India's progress in disease control, saying that despite having nearly one-sixth of the world's population, India accounts for only a small fraction of the global malaria burden.

Similarly, tuberculosis incidence in India has declined at a faster rate than the global average, with treatment coverage reaching 92 per cent.

Union Minister Nadda also recalled major public health milestones, including India being declared polio-free in 2014, elimination of neonatal tetanus in 2015, and trachoma no longer being a public health concern.

He expressed confidence that India is on track to eliminate kala-azar in the near future.

The Union Health Minister said while financial resources are available, the key lies in their effective and timely utilisation.

Strengthening governance, enhancing communication, and ensuring last-mile implementation will be critical in achieving the vision of a robust, inclusive, and future-ready healthcare system for India.

- IANS