Union Health Minister JP Nadda Addresses Concerns Over Rural Medical Services
Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday dismissed concerns raised by members of parliament regarding the lack of medical services in rural areas, stating that such claims are "far from the truth." He stated that the shortage of doctors is being tackled by increasing medical seats, which will result in the addition of 10,000 doctors this year. During Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said that there may be a lesser number of doctors posted on the ground in rural areas, but the shortage is being addressed by the government by increasing medical seats that will lead to the addition of 75,000 new doctors over the next five years and 10,000 this year.
"The question frequently arises that we are unable to serve in rural areas, it is very far from the truth. Our MMR (maternal mortality rate) is double that of global decline. U-WIN tracks every mother who becomes pregnant till the delivery time and when the child becomes two years old and gets all the injections done. Everything is tracked," Nadda said, as reported by news agency PTI. He was responding to a question by a Congress MP.
To cite the strength of the medical system, the health minister said that 220 crore double doses with booster injections were given during the Covid-19 pandemic across the country, even in the remotest part of the country. "Posting doctors is the responsibility of states. We pay them. If doctors aren't there, then we are running mobile medical units, doing telemedicine consultation," Nadda said.
He said that nine crore screenings have been done for cervical cancer, 5.3 crore people have been screened under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, and two crore cards have been made. "If doctors did not go there, medical professionals did not go, then who decided it is not a sickle cell," Nadda said. He said that the country's health system is robust, be it any state and run by any government.
"Due to this, our robust system can detect the polio virus even in sewage. I admit that there may be eight doctors and there may be four. For this, there has been a 131 per cent increase in medical colleges. 75,000 new medical doctors are going to come in the next five years and 10,000 more doctors will be added this year," Nadda said, as reported by PTI.
The minister's statement comes as a response to concerns raised by members of parliament regarding the lack of medical services in rural areas. The government has been working to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas, and the increase in medical seats is expected to provide a significant boost to the healthcare system.
The addition of 75,000 new doctors over the next five years is expected to have a significant impact on the healthcare system, particularly in rural areas where the shortage of doctors is most acute. The government's efforts to increase medical seats and provide training to medical professionals are expected to pay off in the coming years, and the country's health system is expected to become more robust and efficient.
The minister's statement also highlights the importance of the U-WIN system, which tracks every mother and child from pregnancy to delivery and beyond. The system has been instrumental in reducing maternal mortality rates and ensuring that children receive all the necessary vaccinations.
Overall, the minister's statement suggests that the government is committed to addressing the shortage of doctors in rural areas and improving the healthcare system as a whole. The increase in medical seats and the addition of new doctors are expected to have a significant impact on the healthcare system, and the country's health system is expected to become more robust and efficient in the coming years.
Via : Buissness Standard, Medical Dialogue
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