Union health secy highlights India's health achievements, future goals at WHO assembly
India, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), intends to further strengthen the drug regulatory system to ensure quick access to high-quality medical products for all, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra said on Wednesday. Chandra, who is leading the Indian delegation, addressed the Plenary Session of the 77th World Health Assembly of WHO in Geneva.
The health secretary started his address by highlighting the similarities of this year's theme, «All for Health, Health for All» with the age-old Indian tradition of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' which means «world is one family», a health ministry statement said.
He stated that under this theme, «India launched the 'Ayushman Bharat' meaning Live Long India to promote Universal Health Coverage by operationalizing more than 1,60,000 health and wellness centres (Ayushman Aarogya Mandir)».
Chandra highlighted that as per the WHO SPAR report, India has a core capacity score of 86 per cent to detect, assess, report and respond to any health emergencies, which exceeds the Southeast Asia Region and Global average.
«Showing significant drop in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in past decades, India is on track to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets. Today, India is on the verge of eliminating Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) disease and has also reduced the TB incidence and mortality,» he stated.
The health secretary also emphasised on the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which aims to provide over 343
