Focus to remain on infrastructure development in health institutions across the country

Chandigarh, 17 July (H.S.): Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said India had emerged as one of the leading countries in producing doctors and medical professionals. To further strengthen medical education, the government would add 75,000 undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats across the country over the next five years.

He said 25,000 seats had already been added in the first phase. The expansion would help ensure the availability of more doctors and trained medical professionals for the people in the coming years.

Nadda was addressing a programme in Chandigarh on Friday, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for healthcare and infrastructure projects worth nearly ₹4,700 crore.

The Union Health Minister said the National Health Policy introduced in 2017 under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership had focused on the needs of people at the last mile. He said the policy was different from previous health policies in both its vision and approach.

“It is a comprehensive and inclusive health policy. Its objective is not only to treat diseases but also to prevent them,” Nadda said.

He said the country had witnessed unprecedented progress in the healthcare sector under Prime Minister Modi. Around 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were currently functioning across India.

Nadda said the number of medical colleges had increased from 387 to 818, while the number of undergraduate medical seats had risen to nearly 1.38 lakh. More than 23 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences were also functioning across the country, he added.

Describing Ayushman Bharat as the world’s largest government-funded health coverage programme, Nadda said Ayushman cards had been issued to nearly 90 crore people. The digital health system would enable citizens’ medical records to be accessed with a single click.

He said the government would continue to focus on developing infrastructure at PGIMER Chandigarh, AIIMS and other major healthcare institutions across the country.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH