Need for special task force for universal healthcare: Minister

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday said there was a need to set up a special task force comprising both government and private healthcare sectors to ensure quality healthcare for every citizen of India.

"Our vision is to provide universal healthcare coverage despite several challenges in the health sector. It can better be done by a special task force comprising the ministry and representatives of private healthcare sector," Nadda said.

He was addressing the 12th India Health Summit, an annual flagship event on healthcare, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

The minister also emphasised on better coordination between all stakeholders to implement universal health coverage.

"We have been in constant dialogue with the industry on health issues for long. It is time to move forward. I assure of government commitment to promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience, expertise and mutual trust."

Pointing to variations in health facilities in urban and rural areas, Nadda said north-eastern and central India's tribal areas too need a lot of attention, adding that though the focus generally was on secondary and tertiary sectors but primary healthcare too needed more attention.

"Paucity of human resource in health, inadequate infrastructure, poor logistics and supply chain arrangements to ensure essential drugs and supplies continue to be areas of concern," Nadda said.

Nadda said National Health Mission and Mission Indradhanush had contributed very significantly to strengthening health system in the country.

"Over Rs.1,34,000 crore have been released under NHM. The India Newborn Action Plan aims to bring down newborn deaths and still births to single digit by 2030. Recently launched Injectable Polio Vaccination as part of routine immunization programme will also play a major role in preventing child mortality," the minister said.