Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday said a new health policy has been formulated for ensuring universal and comprehensive health care nation-wide for which adequate funding would be made available to the States.
Speaking as a Chief Guest in a review meeting of Health Department of Himachal Pradesh, here, Nadda, who hails from the hill State, said the Government was going for universal free health screening for six diseases including hypertension and cancer.
"This scheme will be initially launched in 100 districts of the country. The screening will help in detection and diagnosis of chronic diseases. 'Test and Treat" scheme for HIV patients would also be a component of New Health Policy," he added.
Nadda asked the Doctors to prescribe generic medicines which were mandatory by law. He also stressed upon the need to enhance communication with the patients so that every patient went satisfied from the Hospital. He said AIIMS would be set up soon in the State.
Himachal Health & Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said the State was committed to improve the health of its people, implementing national health programs and schemes as per the health policy mandate. He said the health indicators of Himachal Pradesh were better than other big states in the country. Total fertility rate is 1.7 against national average of 2.3, infant mortality rate is 28 which is 37 in India and under 5 child mortality rate is 33 against national rate of 43.
Thakur informed that presently the construction on 651 Health Institutions was in progress, out of which 117 buildings were complete. As many as 23 new Civil Hospitals, 36 Community Health Centres, 103 Primary Health Centres and 34 Sub Centres were opened during last four years in the State, said the Minister.
The Himachal Health Minister urged the Union Health Minister for providing liberal funding to the State for strengthening & improvement of infrastructure in health institutions and new institutions. He said the Trauma Centre in IGMC was of level one and expected the same status for Tanda also. Thakur also urged to sanction 9 more trauma centres for the State for which case had already been sent.
He said Himachal was the first State to establis Shimlah State Health Commission in 2014 which was aimed at to ensure individual care and public health.
Earlier, Principal Secretary Health Prabodh Saxena, said despite constraints, the health sector had transformed very rapidly. He asked CMOs and Medical Officers for strict implementation of all health schemes viz-a-viz their timely reporting and accurate surveys. He asked for cent percent immunisation and stress on maximum institutional deliveries.