National health policy a landmark step: Sumitra Mahajan

Indore: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan termed the recently adopted National Health Policy as a "landmark" step which commits to comprehensive primary healthcare and effective regulatory framework.

"India was taking various steps to ensure that it meets the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations," she said inaugurating the fourth National Summit on Good, Replicable Practices and Innovations in Public Health Care Systems.

She also stressed on the importance of hospital management.

Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste, who was also present, urged all the states to learn from the effective endeavours of the other states to address the challenges in healthcare delivery.

He said that the summit is a good platform to share experiences and collectively strategise on how to improve health services in the country.

Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said that the summit gives a unique platform to share those steps that have helped to make a difference in healthcare delivery.

"These are also helpful in drawing up a roadmap for meeting goals of SDGs and National Health Policy, 2017 which speaks about a comprehensive healthcare delivery framework," she said.

She further added that if states can weave in the social determinants into module of healthcare provisioning then "we can grow and strengthen our healthcare system together".

Madhya Pradesh Health minister Rustam Singh highlighted various people-centered innovative approaches taken by the state to ensure effective healthcare delivery.

The Health Ministry also gave away awards to the states on the basis of Health Indicators and Service Delivery.

The award for best performing states in the category of indoor services (based on change of In Patient Facilities IPD/1000 population from 2015-16 to 2016-17-HMIS) was given to Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Daman and Diu got the award among the Union Territories (UTs).

For the best out-patient services, the award was given to Gujarat, Punjab and Jharkhand whereas Dadra and Nagar Haveli got the award amongst the Union Territories.

For, average out of pocket expenditure per delivery in public health facility, the award was given to Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Among the UTs, the award was given to Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

The award for decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) was given to Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal among the bigger states, while Manipur received it among the smaller states and Puducherry in the UT category.

Best Performance in Revised National TB Control Programme was given to Assam and Himachal Pradesh.