New health policy soon: Vardhan

Announcing the Centre's plan to unveil a new health policy soon, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today said National Health Mission (NHM) would be reviewed and made more inclusive to make "health for all" a social movement.
"The government wants to formulate a comprehensive new health policy for which efforts have already begun. The country needs a comprehensive policy to address the complex healthcare challenges," he told reporters here before winding up his two-day visit to Odisha.
The new health policy would be given a final shape after wide-ranging discussions and consultations with national and international experts keeping in mind the changing scenario and advances in the healthcare sector, he said.

Vardhan said he is already in the process of reviewing NHM, which would be completing a decade in April 2015, in order to make it more effective.
Constant interaction is being held with experts from diverse backgrounds on meeting the unachieved goals, the minister said, adding steps are also being taken to ensure rational prescribing of drugs by doctors to promote cheaper essential drugs like generic medicines.
He termed the exodus of doctors from the country for brighter career prospects as a matter of "grave concern," saying a large number of trained medicos are leaving India each year for more lucrative careers abroad.