India has prioritised strengthening health systems as a non-negotiable strategy: Nadda

New Delhi: India has prioritised strengthening health systems as a non-negotiable strategy towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda today said.
Addressing the ‘BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting at Tianjin, China, he underlined that strengthening of health systems was critical to achieving SDGs.
Highlighting the achievements of India in the health sector, Mr Nadda stated that India has expanded the number of vaccines under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) and launched Mission Indradhanush aimed at expanding coverage by reaching the unreached. India has taken various measures to augment both number, quality and skill mix and geographical distribution to address shortage of critical health human resource such as increasing medical seats, upgradation of District Hospitals to Medical colleges in underserved areas, establishing new AIIMS, he elaborated.
Reiterating the commitment of the Union Government, the Health Minister said, ”India stands unwavering in its commitment towards synergising collaboration with BRICS countries especially through the ‘BRICS Framework for Collaboration on Strategic Projects in Health’.”
Referring to the importance of building strong and resilient health systems, the Minister said, ”The case for strengthening health systems stems from the basic realisation that even the most well-crafted or well-designed health interventions cannot succeed without a strengthened health system that encompasses improvements in healthcare service provision, utilisation, quality and efficiency of healthcare services delivered including adoption of healthy behaviours and practices.” (UNI)