Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening regional partnership and contributing to collective efforts to build stronger, more resilient, and equitable health systems. The Minister made these remarks while addressing the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held in Dili, Timor-Leste virtually.
Mr Nadda said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has continued to strengthen primary healthcare, expand access to quality services, and drive focused action on both communicable and non-communicable diseases. He said that the Government is also adopting innovative, flexible approaches to improve the availability and retention of specialists in difficult areas, including competitive remuneration, difficult area allowances, insourcing of speciality services, performance-based incentives, and fixed-tenure postings. He added, India is leveraging technology to overcome geographical barriers through platforms like eSanjeevani to facilitate teleconsultations, referrals, and continuity of care, particularly for people living in remote and rural areas.
India was honoured with World Health Organization South-East Asia Region Award at the session. The Health Minister said that the honour recognises the achievements of India’s public health for sustaining elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus over the past decade and for India’s leadership in tackling non-communicable diseases through primary healthcare.
Mr Nadda said this award is not only a recognition of policies and programmes of the government but also of the country’s healthcare workforce, particularly the frontline health workers who work tirelessly to deliver essential health services, reach the last mile and ensure the benefits of our health programmes reach every citizen. He also highlighted the adoption of the declaration on the Human Resources for Health Equity in Specialised Care. Mr Nadda said that it is an important step towards ensuring that the expansion of the health workforce translates into equitable access to quality specialised healthcare, particularly for people living in hard-to-reach areas.
