Quality healthcare must reach the last person in society: LS Speaker Om Birla
Nashik, July 12
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Sunday that the government and private institutions must work together to ensure that quality healthcare reaches the last person in society,
He made these remarks while inaugurating a private health facility in Nashik, Maharashtra, according to an official statement.
Birla noted that the Central government has been working to promote the health and well-being of all.
He observed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently encouraged a healthy lifestyle and that Yoga has today become an integral part of the daily lives of people across the world.
He stressed the need to adopt Yoga and an environmentally sustainable lifestyle to ensure a healthy and disease-free life.
Birla observed that the Central government has taken several important steps to strengthen the country's healthcare system. Medical infrastructure has been expanded, seats in medical colleges have been increased, and major initiatives, including Ayushman Bharat, have been launched.
He added that the participation of the private sector is also yielding meaningful results, with new medical colleges being established, medical infrastructure being strengthened, and greater emphasis being placed on research alongside the treatment of serious diseases.
Emphasising the importance of medical research, Birla stressed that medical professionals and institutions must prepare themselves to address the challenges posed by existing as well as emerging diseases.
India, he said, must further strengthen its capabilities in medical research and innovation.
Referring to India's growing capabilities in science and healthcare, he recalled that there was a time when India depended on developed countries in several areas of healthcare.
However, during the pandemic, Indian scientists made a significant contribution to the development of vaccines, which served humanity during an unprecedented global crisis.
He stressed that the Central government and the private sector must work together to promote research, science and technology and develop effective responses to emerging diseases.
Birla further emphasised the need to establish research and innovation centres in universities and colleges.
Noting that new diseases can emerge unexpectedly and pose serious challenges, he observed that strengthening medical infrastructure must go hand in hand with investment in research, innovation and scientific capabilities.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see the emphasis on yoga and lifestyle. But these wellness talks often ignore that poor people can't even afford basic treatment. Ayushman Bharat is a good start, but many hospitals still refuse to treat card holders. Need stricter implementation.
India's vaccine story during Covid was truly inspiring. But let's be honest—private healthcare in India still costs a bomb. We need more public hospitals with quality care, not just private ones that charge exorbitant fees. The middle class suffers silently.
Research and innovation centres in universities? Finally someone said it! Our brightest minds go abroad because we don't have proper research infrastructure here. If we really want to tackle future diseases, we need to invest in R&D and stop depending on imports for medical equipment. 💡
I agree with the sentiment, but the private sector participation often leads to profit over patients. Need stronger regulation. Also, what about mental healthcare? That is completely ignored in rural India. We need holistic healthcare, not just physical.
As someone who works in a government hospital in a small town, I can say the will is there but resources are scarce. We see hundreds of patients daily with limited staff and equipment. More medical colleges are needed but also more doctors who want to serve rural areas. 🙏
R Rohit P