The National Rural Health Mission aims to find Financing Mechanisms to reduce every households burden of expenditure on Healthcare, said Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, while presiding over a National Conclave on “Towards Millennium Development Goals on Health”, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, here today. The Minister said that there is enough evidence to indicate that there has been a lot of improvement in Health Indicators of the country. Hence, India will be able to meet the Millennium Development goals of which Health is an important segment, by 2015, with the active cooperation of the States.
Dr.Ramadoss pointed out that reducing child mortality, improving maternal Health and Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases are specific targets of Health Sector. Achieving other targets of the MDG, will also go a long way in further improving Health Indicators. He underlined that health indicators of some States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala equal that of many developed countries, while on the other hand, health indicators of several other States call for an alternative perspective on health. The NRHM exactly addresses these challenges with innovation, enhanced resources, improved management and a planning process led by people. This also calls for a diversity of approaches, not necessarily in the Health sector, to meet context-specific needs. Dr.Ramadoss also spoke of providing a 24 hour hospital like services in each block and an army of paramedics to meet peoples healthcare needs. He also spoke of the hospital development committees of Kerala, the Rogi Kalyan Samiti of Madhya Pradesh, which can act as models to develop guaranteed Health services to the people.
The Secretary Health Shri P.K.Hota said NRHM is only a model which needs to be replicated and upgraded as we proceed and gain experiences for more improvement. He urged the private sector to adopt Health infrastructure in rural and backward areas with a vision of long term involvement. Government will also provide assistance and both together should energise the Health Sector, he said.
VKS/NSK/SR
(Release ID :13648)