Healthcare became more accessible for North-East region in last 10 yrs: Union Minister
Union Health Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, stated that healthcare has become accessible in the North-East region in the last 10 years. He emphasized the development of institutions and the opening of new medical colleges in the region. Furthermore, he highlighted the initiatives taken to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for citizens and provide essential health technology.
During the virtual inauguration of the ‘Regional Consultative Workshop on Research Priority for Providing Accessible and Affordable Healthcare for the Northeastern States of India’, Union Health Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, spoke about the progress in healthcare accessibility in the North-East region. He mentioned the establishment of institutions like RIMS, RIPANS, NEIGRIHMS, and Assam AIIMS, along with the opening of 23 new medical colleges in the region.
Dr Mandaviya also noted that over 31 crore people have been given the Ayushman card, which provides free family treatment up to Rs 5 lakh annually. Additionally, the opening of 11,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras offering cheaper drugs and the establishment of more than 1.64 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were highlighted as significant milestones in improving healthcare accessibility.
The Union Health Minister further emphasized the government’s efforts in providing free dialysis services to over 22 lakh kidney patients and free treatment to about six crore people through the PMJAY initiative. He also mentioned the reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure for citizens from 62.6 per cent to 47.1 per cent, indicating a positive impact on the total health expenditure of citizens.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya announced the government’s plans to work on Essential Health Technology, aiming to ensure the availability, accessibility, affordability, and equity of health technologies for all people in the coming times. This initiative is aligned with the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access and affordability for all citizens.
