Health ministry meets key policy makers to chart out action plan for first 100 days

The Ministry of Health headed by Dr Harshvardhan recently had a high level consultation with the top policy makers in Delhi to chart out government's action plan for the first 100 days with respect to healthcare reforms. It is understood that the government is keen to initiate and start delivering on promises in the election manifesto which had strong reference to healthcare needs. It is understood that experts have been mulling over initiating the work on the new health policy on a high priority basis, in the absence of a strong healthcare policy catering to the patient needs. Rural health programme, mission mode project for malnutrition, plan for a programme for senior citizens and reviewing the existing geriatric care programme were also high on agenda. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, president and director of the Disease Management Association of India stressed that as an expert in the area, the association is keenly looking forward to ensure that the government will take serious steps towards reviewing telemedicine and mHealth plans of the ministry of health and family welfare and will take pro active measures to initiate the work for setting up of National eHealth Authority (NeHA). Gupta a leading public policy expert responsible for creating BJP’s election manifesto under the chairmanship of Dr Murli Manohar Joshi stressed, “Since we played an active role in highlighting the healthcare issues time and again to the government over the years and have also included all these factors in the BJPs manifesto, it becomes our priority to ensure that all the promises are duly delivered to the public. We have been in touch with the new government on a frequent basis and have been deliberating on streamlining the whole process in a systematic manner so that healthcare becomes easily accessible to the common man.” He further added that in his representation to the health ministry as policy expert he has highlighted the need to start a plan for women welfare on a mission mode, review the national prevention programme and reform it with a focus on children and chronic diseases including school health. Gupta added that suggestions have also been given to promote Ayush, plan the hospital modernisation programme and focus on education and training  to develop talented human resources in the country.

Source:Pharmabiz