There has been no wild polio virus case for more than 2 years. This is the longest wild polio virus free period in the history of India and a feat globally acknowledged. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare said this in New Delhi last week.
Addressing the 5thFoundation Day of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education &Research, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, Shri Azad said with a phenomenal increase in institutional deliveries, from about 7 hundred thousand in 2005-06 to over 1 crore every year for the past two years, the available infrastructure has been stretched to meet the demand. More than 25,000 additional beds have been sanctioned in 415 health facilities in 11 States across the country to meet the demand this year.
Latest initiative is the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, which was launched on 6th February, 2013 from a tribal block of Thane District in Maharashtra. This national programme is for Universal Screening of Children for Disorders, Diseases, Deficiencies and Disabilities from birth up to 18 years. The programme will cover about 270 million children across the country.
Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad said India made rapid stride in the field of medical education in the recent years. In just over three years’ time, the availability of MBBS seats went up from 33,567 to 45,629 and the number of PG seats increased from 13,838 to 22,850. 72 new medical colleges, including six AIIMS, were established raising the number from 290 to 362. The Medical Colleges at the six new AIIMS have started functioning with admission of 50 students each in September, 2012.
To strengthen Tertiary Health Care delivery in the government sector, Government of India took up 19 State Government owned medical colleges for up-gradation under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakhsha Yojana in different parts of the country. Significant achievements have been made under NRHM. About 43,500 new health infrastructure works have been created and nearly 1.45 lakh human resources added at various levels.
About 70 thousand increase in bed capacity to provide essential and emergency services, which have all helped in bringing healthcare services to all, especially to the marginalized and vulnerable sections living in rural, remote and difficult to access areas.