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Union minister Nadda outlines govt’s health goals, says emphasis on disease prevention, better treatment
Four doctors of PGIMER and Director-Principal, GMCH, among those honoured at Delhi event
During the health conference at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on Thursday. (Express photo)
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda Thursday said India is rapidly progressing towards self-reliance and accessibility in the healthcare sector.
“Our objective is to provide the best medical facilities to the people of the country, and at the same time prevent diseases even before they develop. For this purpose, the network of wellness centres has been expanded, where regular check-ups will help detect diseases in time,” said Nadda while addressing a health conference at India Habitat Centre, jointly organised by Sarv Kalyankari Trust and SRS Foundation.
He said that Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres across the country are providing free consultations, nutrition checks, blood pressure and sugar tests to the general public.
The health minister said that ASHA workers will now ensure that every person above 30 years of age undergoes regular health screening, enabling early detection of serious health concerns such as diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension, and cancer. He added that the aim is to ensure treatment reaches people at their doorstep — affordable, accessible, and accountable services form the foundation of this model.
Highlighting Ayushman Bharat, the minister noted that while private insurers often deny health coverage to individuals above 70 years, the Ayushman scheme provides coverage even for citizens above 70, without any income limit.
On the TB elimination mission, Nadda spoke about digital X-ray facilities capable of generating reports within a minute — enabling faster diagnosis even in remote regions.
“Our target is to make a patient completely TB-free within three months of treatment. Faster diagnosis means timely treatment — that is our greatest strength,” he said.
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He appealed to social organisations to participate actively in bringing the public to the wellness centres.
Dr Raj Bahadur, chairman of AIIMS-Rishikesh and renowned spine specialist, said that amidst rising medical expenses, the Ayushman Bharat scheme has proven to be a lifeline for the poor.
Over 42 crore Ayushman cards have already been issued, providing eligible citizens with cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, he added.
Dr Bahadur was given Lifetime Achievement Award in Orthopaedics & Medical Education Leadership. From PGIMER, Chandigarh, four doctors were awarded: Dr Himanshu Bhayana (orthopaedics), Dr Jaamanti Bakhshi (ENT), Dr Surinder Singh Rana (gastroenterology) and Dr Naveen Sankhyan (paediatric neurology). Also awarded was Dr Gurvinder Pal Thami, Director-Principal, Govt Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, for exemplary leadership in medical administration and dermatology.
Sarv Kalyankari Trust president Abhishek Rana welcomed the chief guest and said, “Government schemes can be impactful only when information reaches every citizen. Our trust is committed to taking health awareness to every village.”
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SRS Foundation president Dr Sajan Sharma shared with the audience the details of the upcoming joint initiatives of both the organisations.
Prominent among those present were Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan, members of Sarv Kalyankari Trust Rajendra Rana and Yashpal Aggarwal.
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