New Delhi: Health Minister JP Nadda today announced the government’s plan to open 10,000 additional Jan Aushadhi outlets over the next two years, building on the 15,000 already operational across the country.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Nadda highlighted that the affordable medicines available at these outlets have saved patients approximately Rs 30,000 crore to date.
In his remarks, the Health Minister emphasized the comprehensive nature of the National Health Policy introduced in 2017, which incorporates palliative, curative, rehabilitative, and preventive approaches. He noted that earlier policies primarily focused on curative measures.
Nadda responded to concerns raised by several Rajya Sabha members regarding last-mile connectivity and grassroots health delivery, acknowledging that the role of state governments is crucial in this area.
He reiterated that the Centre’s role is to provide financial and technical support, policy-making, planning, and research to aid the implementation of the National Health Mission. The Minister also stressed the government’s commitment to promoting both AYUSH and allopathic medicine.
On the issue of healthcare workforce training, Nadda urged MPs to ensure that local health centers are equipped to provide 14 essential diagnostic services.
Earlier, during the debate, BJP MP Bhubaneswar Kalita praised the healthcare advancements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, noting that healthcare in India has become a global standard. He also highlighted the influx of international patients seeking treatment in India due to the affordability and quality of care.
JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha shared that over 120,000 new MBBS seats had been created in the past decade to address the shortage of doctors.
He also noted the significant improvement in immunization rates in Bihar, which have risen to 95%. Jha expressed gratitude for the establishment of a second AIIMS in Darbhanga, Bihar.
JD(S) leader and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda called for greater focus on rural hospitals and proposed vaccinating high-school girls against cervical cancer. Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury urged the government to reduce GST rates for cancer patients and expressed concerns about the reduction in healthcare sector allocations in the recent Budget. CPI (M) MP V. Sivadasan called for increased healthcare spending, pointing out that India currently allocates only 0.27% of its GDP to health.
