File Photo: Union Minister JP Nadda
Union Health Minister J P Nadda today appealed to states to give "priority" to innovations and adopt best practices for achieving "superior outcomes" in the health care sector of the country.
"Superior outcomes in health care in India will be better achieved with innovations in health practices and products, and I urge states to give priority to innovations and best practices," Mr Nadda said.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day national summit on 'Best Practices and Innovations in Healthcare in India' in Shimla today.
Noting that "formidable" challenges still need to be addressed in many states due to lack of sturdy infrastructure, shortage of skilled manpower and procurement issues, Mr Nadda said that the National Health Mission has achieved significant and commendable health outcomes covering reduction in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
The Health Minister reiterated that the Centre is committed to providing all assistance and resources to the states in achieving health outcomes which is "dependent on a sturdy and meaningful partnership between the states and the Centre."
Mr Nadda said that the summit is an effort to systematically identify innovations which can have a high impact to address morbidity and mortality and facilitate their prompt scale up through a platform.
Principal health secretaries and mission directors of NHM from the states are taking part in the three-day summit.
Elaborating about immunisation programme 'Mission Indradhanush', Mr Nadda said that three rounds of the Mission has been completed and the fourth round will commence on July 7.
He said that the campaign has resulted in immunisation of more than 57 lakh children and more than eight lakh pregnant women while about 14.5 lakh children have been fully immunized against seven vaccine preventable diseases.
Recognising the work of frontline health workers, Mr Nadda asserted that their inputs should be taken in designing innovations and drafting best practices.
The Union minister said that the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership is progressing on the path of a "constructive cooperative federalism" where the states are taking the lead in designing and implementing programmes and schemes for the benefit of the masses.
As many as 110 innovations and best practices are also being showcased in the summit. Nadda also released guidelines prepared by the Union Health Ministry for the 'Rogi Kalyan Samitis' functioning in the states and for disbursal of free drugs in the states.
He also gave away awards for best practices from various states. The award for maternal health outcomes was given away to Maharashtra, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.
In the category of Newborn Survival, Kerala bagged the first prize, while the second and third were given away to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.