India will achieve SDG-3 targets in health sector: J.P. Nadda

Congratulating Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a former Ethiopian health minister for becoming the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Union Minister J.P. Nadda said India looks forward to working with him to build a strong, resilient health system, especially in developing countries, and to mitigate any vulnerability to health crisis.

"India remains committed to ensuring quality and affordable healthcare for all.We have made strategic investments under the National Health Mission and the national diease control programmes.We are commmitted to further strengthening the health systems," Nadda said.

The union minister attended two meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement and BRICS where the countries decided to cooperate, coordinate and to find strategies to strengthen health systems. He added India has emphatically put forward its case on issues related to affordable and accessible medicines and diagnostic medicines .

Nadda addressed the Plenary Meeting of the 70th World Health Assembly, at Geneva on Tuesday . Speaking on the theme Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: building better systems for health,Nadda said India remains committed to ensuring quality and affordable healthcare for all. We have made strategic investments under the National Health Mission and the national disease control programmes."

Nadda also informed the participants that the National Health Policy, 2017 lays down the roadmap for various milestones and targets. To translate the Policy into affirmative action, we are working with the States, Union Territories, academicians and development partners. A National SDG-3 Task Force has been set up with representation of key ministries, agencies and experts," he said.

Reiterating the commitment of the government, the Health Minister said that India is committed to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). We plan to achieve more than 90% immunization coverage by 2020. We are rolling out universal population-based screening for common NCDs. There is more stress on quality improvement in public health service delivery. We plan to provide essential Drugs & Diagnostics-free of cost in public health facilities," Nadda stated. (ANI)