GUWAHATI: “We must continuously strive to strengthen our healthcare systems to ensure their resilience in the face of a pandemic and harness their ability to provide affordability and accessibility of healthcare services in the innermost areas of the nation.”
This was stated by Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya as he laid the foundation and inaugurated various health infrastructure projects under Pradhan Mantri- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), National Health Mission (NHM) and XV Finance Commission Health Grants in the presence of state health minister Keshab Mahanta and Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, Rameshwar Teli at a function from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) on Sunday.
Mandaviya laid the foundation for 50 Bedded Critical Care Block at Lakhimpur Medical College under PM-ABHIM, Block Primary Health Unit at Baithalangso BPHC at Harinagar BPHC at North Guwahati PHC at Saphekhati BPHC at Suakuchi BPHC under PM-ABHIM, Integrated Public Health Laboratory at Jakhalabandha SDHC under PM-ABHIM and Sasoni Community Health Centre under XV-FC Health Grants
The Union minister also inaugurated the upgradation of Bhetagaon CHC to Bijni SDCH, Community Health Centre and Residential Quarters at Chenga, Barpeta District, upgradation of 100 Bedded RNB Gossaiagaon SDCH, Community Health Centre and Residential Quarters at Nityanandpur, Hailakandi district, Community Health Centre and Residential Quarters at Haluwating, Sivasagar district, Community Health Centre and Residential Quarters at Nasatra, Barpeta district, upgradation of Tamulpur BPHC to SDCH and Strengthening of Titabor SDCH.
Reiterating the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mandaviya said: “A healthy society builds a healthy nation which lays the foundation for a prosperous country. India is striving towards developing a substantial ecosystem that imbibes excellence and harnesses the potential of its manpower to build healthcare systems with the fortitude to tackle any health emergency that comes up.”
He said such relentless pursuit led to the inception of PM-ABHIM.
Mandaviya lauded the healthcare development initiatives in Assam and said: “We need to make healthcare affordable and accessible through holistic development of robust healthcare infrastructure while prioritizing research and development and initiatives such as Heal in India, Heal by India”.
Underscoring the need to synergize and work in unison, the Union minister said: “Healthcare infrastructure should consolidate integration at block, district, and regional levels to monitor surveillance of any new variant or disease entering our nation.”.
Mandaviya commemorated the initiatives undertaken in Assam applauding the growth of medical, dental and nursing colleges he stated “This ceremony will mark a crucial milestone in the ongoing efforts of the government towards strengthening our healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that quality healthcare reaches every citizen of our nation, even in the most critical times.”
Emphasizing the uniqueness of India’s healthcare system, Mandaviya said, “India has its model of health that is congruent to its needs, strengths and abilities.”
He further added that differing from other nations, India has a four-tier healthcare system that functions from grassroots to primary to secondary to tertiary wherein institutes such as 1,66,000 Health and Wellness Centres spread across rural and urban areas. They host a breadth of healthcare services themselves and also serve to connect the underserved with secondary and tertiary-level consultations at their respective locations saving patient’s time and money and providing services and care with ease at affordable rates.
While delivering his keynote address at the Amrit Kaal Vimarsh Viksit Bharat @2047, the Union minister highlighted the government’s commitment and resolve to empower the youth and urged them to leverage existing grants and schemes to innovate and add their contribution to building a healthier nation.
He further added that India’s vision of healthcare services extends to opportunities across the world wherein the skilled health workforce of the nation can easily pursue global opportunities citing the example of medical colleges in Assam teaching the Japanese language to facilitate placement of Indian medical workforce abroad.
LS Changsen, AS & MD, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Avinash Joshi, additional chief secretary, (health and family welfare), government officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NHM mission director MS Lakshmi Priya, representatives from AIIMS, IITG were present at the event.
