Kolkata, 08 January (H.S.) :Highlighting the sweeping reforms in India’s healthcare sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party National President and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal. Addressing a doctors’ conference here, Nadda said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal rejected the Ayushman Bharat scheme and was shown the door by the people, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has also opposed the scheme, will face a similar response in 2026.
Nadda said the vision of a developed India can only be realised on the foundation of a healthy India. He noted that over the past eleven years, the healthcare sector has witnessed unprecedented and historic transformation under Prime Minister Modi, fundamentally changing both the direction and delivery of healthcare services in the country.
Referring to the National Health Policy implemented in 2017, the Union Health Minister said India’s healthcare approach has moved beyond being limited to treatment alone and now encompasses preventive, promotive, curative, palliative, rehabilitative and geriatric care. He said the policy is based on a whole-of-government approach, where various departments work in coordination, integrating human, animal, environmental and agricultural health.
Nadda stated that more than one lakh eighty-one thousand Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established across the country, strengthening the primary healthcare system. These centres cater to populations of three to four thousand people and serve as the first point of contact for health check-ups, counselling and treatment. Regular health screenings are being conducted for citizens above the age of thirty with the support of ASHA workers, community health officers and local representatives.
He said large-scale screening drives have been launched for early detection of cancer. Over forty crore people have been screened for oral cancer, while more than twenty crore women have undergone screening for breast and cervical cancer. He added that this initiative is only the beginning and will be expanded further.
Speaking on maternal and child health, Nadda said digital systems are being used to monitor immunisation from pregnancy till a child attains sixteen years of age. Any missed vaccination triggers immediate alerts to healthcare workers and authorities, ensuring that no child is left out of the immunisation programme.
The Union Health Minister highlighted significant improvements in key health indicators, including institutional deliveries, maternal mortality, infant mortality and under-five mortality rates. He said India has also made substantial progress in controlling diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, with treatment success rates surpassing global averages.
Referring to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Nadda said it is the world’s largest health insurance programme, providing free treatment of up to five lakh rupees to over sixty-three crore poor and vulnerable citizens. He expressed concern that people of West Bengal are being deprived of its benefits due to political reasons, while beneficiaries in other states are availing lifesaving treatment.
He further said that in 2024, Prime Minister Modi took a historic decision to provide annual health coverage to every citizen above the age of seventy, irrespective of income, but elderly citizens in West Bengal have also been denied this benefit.
Nadda also spoke about reforms in medical education, noting a record increase in the number of medical colleges and seats, which has helped address the shortage of doctors in the country.
Concluding his address, the BJP president said that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India’s healthcare sector has become preventive, comprehensive and digital. He said this “New India” is committed to ensuring healthcare access for the poor, the marginalised and the last person in the queue, and asserted that the people will continue to support this model in the coming years.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
