India must improve quality of diagnostics, medicines: WHO

The quality of health services, medicines and diagnostics in the country needs to be improved to make the National Health Assurance Mission (NHAM) a success, WHO representative in India Nata Menabde said Friday.

Speaking at a discussion here with public health experts and advocates on the need to ensure universal access to healthcare in India and across the world, Menabde said India should do more for its citizens to provide them quality healthcare.

"Quality of health services and diagnostics, medicines needs to be improved along with more aware citizens for the national health mission to succeed," Menabde said here at the at the India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC).

The event, organized by Public Health Foundation of India and supported by WHO, Rockefeller Foundation, and Oxfam India was part of a coalition of over 500 health and development organisations around the world that are urging governments to accelerate reforms that ensure health services to all citizens.

Being observed as first-ever Universal Health Coverage Day, Dec 12 marks the two-year anniversary of a UN resolution which endorsed universal health coverage as a pillar of sustainable development and global security.