Health Minister JP Nadda today said there are 15 thousand Jan Aushadhi outlets currently operational and the government has decided to open ten thousand more such outlets in the next two years. Replying to the discussion in Rajya Sabha on the working of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, Mr Nadda said that due to the very affordable medicines available in these outlets, there have been savings of 30 thousand crore rupees for patients till now. The Health Minister highlighted that the National Health Policy introduced in 2017 is a comprehensive policy, which has elements such as palliative, curative, rehabilitative, and preventative approaches. He said the focus of earlier health policies was curative.
The Health Minister noted that several members spoke about last mile connectivity and grassroots delivery in the health sector, and pointed out that it is a mandate of the state. He stated that the role of Centre is financial and technical support, policy-making and planning, research and development and hand-holding to reach the goals of the National Health Mission. He added that the Narendra Modi government has focused on AYUSH as well as allopathy.
The Health Minister stated that Centre is laying emphasis on training healthcare workers across the country. He urged the MPs to ensure that local health centres have the 14 types of diagnostics that have to be provided in health centres.
Earlier, participating in the debate, Bhubaneswar Kalita of BJP said, the country has seen a new dimension on healthcare under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, there has been tremendous improvement in the system and healthcare in the country has become a global standard. Mr Kalita said, due to quality healthcare and affordability, people from different countries are coming to India for treatment.
Sanjay Kumar Jha of JD(U) said, there has been a big change in healthcare in the country with remarkable steps. He said, in the last ten years, over one lakh twenty thousand new MBBS seats were created keeping in view the shortage of doctors. Mr Jha said, there was very less immunisation in Bihar nearly one and half decade ago but now it has reached 95 per cent. He thanked the Health Ministry for the second AIIMS in Bihar at Darbhanga.
JD(S) leader and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda stressed on more focus on hospitals in rural areas. He suggested that Government should vaccinate high-school girl students to protect them from cervical cancer. Renuka Chowdhury of Congress urged the government to reduce GST rates for cancer patients. She expressed concern claiming that allocation for the healthcare sector in the Budget has been slashed. V Sivadasan of CPI (M) said that health is the right of the people, but India is only spending 0.27 per cent of its GDP on health. He said, there should be more spending on health.