National Health Policy: Cabinet nod a huge milestone in history of health sector in country, says JP Nadda

New Delhi: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Thursday addressed the Parliament elaborating on the salient features of National Health Policy 2017.

Nadda said that his government is making policy patient-centric, making patient empowered regarding redressal and treatment.

“We will develop standards if treatment is not done properly then tribunals will be set up to take the matter,” Nadda said in the Lok Sabha.

He said that the policy aims at reaching healthcare in an assured manner, particularly to undeserved and underprivileged.

In his address, the minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the policy that has preventive and promotive healthcare oreintation.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi gave its nod to the policy which seeks to reduce out of pocket expenses on health.

He said that it is a huge milestone in the history of health sector in the country.

The last National Health Policy was framed in 2002. This policy has come after a gap of 15 years to address the current and emerging challenges necessitated by the changing socio-economic, technological and epidemiological landscape.

The policy, which proposes to provide "assured health services to all" in the country, has been for the last two years.

Making a major policy shift, the policy also increases the gambit of sectors covered in the Primary Health Centre (PHC) level and envisages a comprehensive approach.

The policy informs and prioritises the role of the government in shaping health systems in all its dimensions - investments in health, organisation and financing of healthcare services, prevention of diseases and promotion of good health through cross-sectoral action, access to technology, developin ghuman resources, developing medical pluralism, building the knowledge base required for better health, financial protection strategies and regulation and proggressive for health.