Rate of decline in key health indicators nearly double of global rate: Nadda
New Delhi: The rate of decline in key health indicators in India, for example infant mortality and maternal mortality, is nearly double the global rate, Union health minister J P Nadda said on Tuesday, and added that the private sector has played an important role in achieving this feat.
Speaking at the inauguration of a 300-bedded hospital developed by Max Healthcare in Dwarka in West Delhi, Nadda said the US and Europe could not get more than 70% of their population vaccinated against the coronavirus during the Covid-19 pandemic, while in India, which has a more than 140 crore population, 220 crore vaccine doses were administered successfully.
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"Even in Naxal-affected areas, healthcare workers made sure to take the cold chain system and administer double doses of the Covid vaccine," the minister said.
In 2017, the BJP-led Centre came up with a National Health Policy that focuses on holistic management of health issues. Nadda said the focus was on curative treatment. Now, the govt is strategizing towards building infrastructure for promoting health and wellness, preventing diseases and providing rehabilitation, where needed, in addition to providing treatment, he said.
"We have operationalized 1.77 lakh Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs or primary health facilities in the country that are being used to screen people for common illnesses, for example high blood pressure, diabetes, oral cancer, breast cancer and cancer of the cervix," Nadda said.
Chairman and managing director of Max Healthcare, Abhay Soi, said Delhi-NCR is a critical hub for advanced medical care, and Dwarka, given its strong connectivity to multiple parts of Delhi, is perfectly positioned to meet the region's growing healthcare needs. "As a greenfield venture, this facility reflects our intent to expand meaningfully by building high-quality infrastructure in locations that improve accessibility," he said.
Max Healthcare currently operates 22 healthcare facilities with around 5,000 beds. Soi said they plan to add 3,700 beds across key locations in the country. Max Super Speciality Hospital in Dwarka, he added, houses over 120 critical-care beds, 10 modular operation theatres, and advanced Cath Labs, according to a statement issued by the hospital.
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