Govt Prioritising Preventive, Palliative and Rehabilitative Healthcare: JP Nadda
New Delhi: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday emphasized the government's growing focus on providing not just curative care, but also preventive, palliative, and rehabilitative healthcare across India. Speaking at the fifth convocation ceremony of AIIMS Rishikesh, Nadda reiterated the central government’s commitment to delivering world-class and affordable healthcare to every citizen, especially the underprivileged.
“The government is focused on delivering a holistic healthcare system which goes beyond treatment and integrates prevention, palliation, and rehabilitation,” he said, highlighting a shift in national health priorities.
Nadda underscored the progress made in strengthening the country’s medical infrastructure. He noted that until the early 2000s, India had only one AIIMS. Today, 22 AIIMS institutions are operational across the country, significantly boosting access to quality medical education and healthcare services.
He also pointed to the rapid expansion under the Ayushman Bharat initiative. “Currently, 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are functional across India, offering a wide array of healthcare and wellness services to citizens,” he stated.
Medical education, he noted, has seen a significant boost over the past decade. “There has been a 101% rise in the number of medical colleges, which now total 780. MBBS seats have increased by 130% and PG seats by 138%,” he added. Additionally, 157 new nursing colleges are being established alongside medical colleges to strengthen the paramedical workforce.
The Union Minister lauded AIIMS Rishikesh for leveraging technology to extend healthcare to underserved regions. The institute, he said, has successfully used helicopter and drone services to rescue 309 critically ill patients and has been a leader in deploying telemedicine platforms like eSanjeevani.
During the event, Nadda also inaugurated several new healthcare facilities at AIIMS Rishikesh, including a PET scan facility in Nuclear Medicine, a PACS system in Radiology, a new Integrated Medicine unit under AYUSH, and a Centre for Advanced Paediatrics. These additions are expected to further enhance the quality and scope of care at the institute.
Nidhi Srivastava is a dietician. She holds a post-graduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from MRIIRS. With a profound passion for utilizing nutrition and lifestyle modifications to manage diseases, she is dedicated to advancing the field through rigorous research and fact-checking. Her expertise lies in evidence-based practice, ensuring the highest standards of dietary health and wellness.