Universal health coverage key to Sustainable Development: Nadda

Nadda said that the National Health Policy 2017 is dedicated to the highest possible standards of health for the country. He also mentioned about the launch of the Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna which envisions health insurance of 5 lakh rupees per family per year to over 50 crore poor people.

He said that since its launch on September 23, more than 50,000 people have availed of services under the scheme.

"Access to medical products and creating an enabling legal and trade environment for public health are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda.

"These issues require continuous engagement and dialogue. I believe that the Health Ministry with active partnership of other ministries in government will move forward in leaps and bounds" he said.

Nadda further added that India is actively contributing and providing support for the South-East Asia Regulatory Network (SEARN) to guarantee access to high-quality medical products.

Minister of State for Health, Ashwini Choubey highlighted the importance of the traditional medical system in achieving the health goals.

"The diagnosis of modern medicine combined with the treatment modalities of the Ayurveda, Yoga, Homeopathy and other systems of AYUSH will help in giving a holistic approach to treatment," he said.

At the event, Nadda also launched the Information Sharing Platform Gateway for the SEARN developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, which will promote regulatory and health collaboration among the countries of the South-East Asia Region.

State health ministers and principal secretaries from several states in India were also present on the occasion.