In a significant move to strengthen its public healthcare system, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a major expansion of critical medical services across the state. The administration plans to scale up free dialysis facilities and fast-track the establishment of cancer treatment units at the district level.
Key Decisions from High-Level Health Review
The decisions emerged from an intensive, divisional-level review of health services conducted on Tuesday, covering both the Lucknow and Bareilly divisions. Chairing this crucial meeting was Amit Kumar Ghosh, the Additional Chief Secretary for Medical Health and Family Welfare. He emphasized that the core focus remains on improving service quality, accountability, and tangible outcomes for citizens.
Ghosh stressed the imperative of achieving 100% coverage under all flagship health schemes, ensuring that benefits reach every intended beneficiary without any gaps. This directive forms the cornerstone of the state's renewed push towards universal healthcare access.
Expanding Access to Life-Saving Treatments
A central part of the new plan involves a substantial expansion of dialysis infrastructure. Officials have been directed to expand dialysis units across Uttar Pradesh to guarantee wider and easier access to free dialysis services for patients suffering from kidney ailments.
Similarly, addressing the critical gap in oncology care, Ghosh called for a concrete action plan to set up cancer units in district hospitals that currently lack such facilities. He suggested exploring Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models for this initiative, similar to the operational framework used for dialysis services, to ensure efficient and rapid rollout.
Strengthening Diagnostics and Critical Care
The review also placed strong emphasis on enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Ghosh ordered the preparation of district-wise reports on the availability of MRI facilities, meticulously mapping them against existing demand. Officials were instructed to identify all gaps that hinder access to affordable and timely diagnostics.
To improve emergency and life-saving care, the ACS underlined the importance of strengthening critical care services. This will be achieved through focused training and capacity-building programs for medical staff, ensuring the optimal utilization of vital equipment like ventilators and beds in Critical Care Units (CCUs). He also mandated uninterrupted oxygen supply, safe drinking water, and clean bed linen in all medical institutions, adhering strictly to prescribed standards.
Focus on Primary Healthcare and Grassroots Monitoring
Adding to the directives, Dr. Pinky Jowel, the National Health Mission (NHM) Mission Director and Secretary (Medical Health), highlighted the role of community outreach. She advocated for strengthening the Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Melas as an effective platform for delivering primary healthcare, enabling people to access essential services closer to their homes.
Dr. Jowel called for regular monitoring of these health melas across all districts. She further directed that all health sub-centres must ensure full availability of human resources, addressing a common bottleneck at the grassroots level.
This comprehensive review was informed by an extensive inspection drive. Between December 26 and 28, authorities evaluated a total of 2,947 health facilities of various levels across the Lucknow and Bareilly divisions, providing the data-driven basis for the new initiatives.
