Dr. Vardhan Urges states to increase spending on healthcare to achieve NHP goal

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Urging the participating Health Ministers from States/UTs to increase healthcare spending to a minimum 8% of their State budget to meet the goals of healthcare spending of National Health Policy 2017- 2.5% of GDP by 2025, Union  Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on October 10, 2019, stated that from the first CCHFW meeting to today, we together have achieved several health milestones especially India being certified Polio-free. This has been possible because of our collaborative efforts, he said.

He was inaugurating the 13^th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) in the presence of  Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS (HFW), Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog, Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW), and Health Ministers from 13 states here.

Dr Vardhan stated that the purpose of the CCHFW meeting is to build a consensus on the national health priorities i.e. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through Ayushman Bharat, eliminating TB and other priority agenda such as strengthening medical infrastructure. This can be achieved by collective increase in healthcare spending by the States/UTs to meet the goals of healthcare spending of National Health Policy 2017- 2.5% of GDP by 2025, he said.

“This is the first time that a government is so committed to healthcare and health care is on the top agenda. This is clearly visible from the passionate address of PMNarendra Modi ji at the recently concluded UN General Assembly where he stressed on four pillars of healthcare, which included universal health coverage; mission mode interventions; quality and accessible affordable healthcare services; and also adequate infrastructure,” Dr Vardhan said.

He further stated, “Health needs to become a social movement in every State & UT and the Eat Right and Fit India movements need to be taken up by States & UTs in a synergised manner, to ensure a healthy & robust India.” The Minister also urged the Health Minister of Uttar Pradesh, who is also the Finance Minister of the State, to increase the health budget of the State and set an example for the rest to emulate, according to a PIB release.