Jagat Prakash Nadda, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, led a high-level meeting on Friday to strategise achieving targeted health objectives within the first 100 days of the new government’s formation.
The meeting, attended by senior officials, including Union Ministers of State Anupriya Patel and Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, focused on enhancing health infrastructure and services across the country.
Reviewing the Ministry’s current operations, Nadda emphasised the critical need to elevate the quality of health facilities and systems. He underscored the expansion of health assurance coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) and stressed the integration of technology in programs such as immunization and health emergency response management.
Expressing concern over the rising prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Nadda advocated for heightened awareness campaigns promoting healthy diets and lifestyles. Specifically addressing the youth, he emphasised the imperative of tobacco control measures and highlighted the necessity for comprehensive awareness campaigns elucidating the scientific and practical implications of NCDs and tobacco use.
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Key officials present at the meeting included Apurva Chandra, the Union Health Secretary; G Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India); and Deepti Gaur Mukherjee, CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), alongside other senior officials from the Union Health Ministry.
The meeting concluded with directives aimed at advancing health initiatives swiftly and effectively, marking a pivotal step towards achieving robust health outcomes under the new government’s tenure.
