liberal approval criteria for setting up medical colleges, affordable quality health care system, more trauma centres on highways, better human resources in the medical sector and AIIMS-like institutes in more States were some of the demands made by the members of the newly-constituted Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Wednesday.
In the first meeting of the panel, Union Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan assured the MPs that their suggestions will be considered even as broad expansion of the number of under-graduate and post-graduate seats are being considered without compromising on the quality of medical education.
Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) highlighted the need to end the lack of awareness among the people on simple health matters and provide affordable and quality health care. Starting medical insurance for the poor and a “drug bank” which will store important medicines in anticipation of shortages were some of the suggestions made by her.
A number of members, including Mufti and Rekha Verma (BJP), asked the Minister to set up trauma centres in their states as their economies are much geared to the highways where accidents are frequent.
Former Health Minister of Kerala, PK Sreemathi Teacher (CPI-M) suggested setting up of cadres for specialist doctors and health administrators. Despite meeting with initial objections, the Kerala government had succeeded in making compulsory rural postings for graduate doctors, she added.
P Venugopal (AIADMK) highlighted the success implementation of universal health coverage and establishment of the Medical Service Recruitment Board in Tamil Nadu.
Prabhakar Kore (BJP) highlighted serious human resource deficit faced by the health sector. He wanted the entire medical education system reviewed while Ashwini Kumar Choubey (BJP) appreciated Harshvardhan's decision to impose a zero tolerance regime towards corruption and inefficiency.