Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda announced on Tuesday that India's healthcare approach has transitioned from a curative model to a comprehensive framework encompassing preventive, promotive, rehabilitative, palliative, and geriatric care. Addressing the second convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bathinda, Nadda highlighted the significant role of over 1.82 lakh Ayushman Arogya Centres, which now serve as the first point of contact for healthcare services across the country.
Focus on Preventive Healthcare
Emphasizing the Centre's dedication to preventive healthcare, Nadda stated that all individuals above 30 years of age are being encouraged to undergo regular screening through panchayats, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, and frontline health personnel. He provided impressive statistics: over 36 crore people have been screened for oral cancer, more than 17 crore women for breast cancer, and over 9 crore women for cervical cancer. Additionally, more than 42 crore individuals have been screened each for diabetes and hypertension, while a nationwide tuberculosis screening campaign is currently underway.
Expansion of Medical Education
The minister highlighted the remarkable expansion of the medical education ecosystem over the past decade. The number of AIIMS institutions has increased to 23, medical colleges have grown from 387 to over 820, undergraduate medical seats have risen from about 59,000 to more than 1.28 lakh, and postgraduate seats from around 31,000 to over 86,000. Nadda reiterated the Centre's commitment to adding 75,000 more undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats over the next five years, with nearly 23,000 seats already established in the last two years.
Doctors as the True Strength
Describing doctors as the true strength of the healthcare system, Nadda remarked that while infrastructure constitutes the hardware of healthcare, healthcare professionals are its software. He affirmed that Punjab remains a priority for the Centre in healthcare development and highlighted the expansion of healthcare infrastructure in the state. The minister lauded AIIMS Bathinda's community outreach initiatives, including the organization of Ayushman camps twice every month across 59 nearby villages, where citizens are screened for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.
New Facilities Inaugurated
Later, Nadda inaugurated a state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography (PET-CT) facility and a second High Energy Linear Accelerator (HELA) unit, enhancing AIIMS Bathinda's capabilities in cancer diagnosis and treatment. He also inaugurated a dedicated Burns Intensive Care Unit (Burns ICU) and dedicated the Child Development and Early Intervention Centre (CDEIC) to the community.
