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Dimapur, May 6 (MExN): Nagaland Minister for Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom highlighted the various steps taken by the Government of Nagaland to improve service delivery in the public health care system.
Addressing the 14th Conference of Central Council of Health & Family Welfare under the banner ‘Swasthya Chintan Shivir’ at Tent City, Kevadia, Gujarat on May 5, the Minister’s ‘talking points’ included the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act, 2002 and the proposed Health Insurance Cover for government employees, among others.
As per a press release received here on Friday, Pangnyu is said to have briefed the conference on the launch of the Ayushman Bharat programme in Nagaland, stating that the first Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centre was launched in the state on August 9, 2018.
The Government of India launched the Ayushman Bharat programme in 2018, with Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) as one of its key pillars, through which primary health care services are to be delivered to everyone, everywhere, including the most vulnerable populations living in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
According to the health Minister, with the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act passed by the state government in 2002, the State has been leading in front in terms of community participation and ownership of the public institution. ‘Communitisation is the partnership between the government and the community for the management of the public sector institutions to improve service delivery,’ the release stated.
He said that the Act has helped the community come forward and take ownership of the public health institution, particularly during the process of upgrading health facilities to Health & Wellness Centres. Elaborating on this, the Minister stated that many articles in the health facilities are donated by the communities and the concept of community kitchens, which are constructed by the community at Health & Wellness Centre, facilitate the community to avail health care services, particularly for mothers and children.
We have seen an increase in public health care utilization and we look forward to having a better health care system and delivering quality health care services to the citizen of Nagaland in particular and India at large, the Minister maintained.
Pangnyu also informed the conference that the State Government will extend Health Insurance Cover using the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY framework to government employees, replacing the medical re-imbursement scheme, and to the remaining households in the population, as a step towards universal health coverage. This extended insurance scheme is being designed and planned for rollout during the year, he said.
To improve continuous supply of electricity and reduce dependency on power grid as well as to mitigate the environmental impact of conventional energy, solar power systems have been installed in all District Hospitals and Community Health Centres in the State, he added.
Noting the increase in elderly population and growing prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases including life style related diseases in Nagaland, the Minister urged the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare to extend support towards promotion of healthcare services for elderly and Non-Communicable Diseases.
Meanwhile, he also expressed gratitude to the Central Government for recognizing the measures taken up by the State by awarding the Best Performing State Award for Malaria control in the country during the commemoration of World Malaria Day 2022 in New Delhi. As envisioned by the Prime Minister, together we can make India Free of Malaria, Tuberculosis and other communicable diseases of public health importance, he stated.
He also stated that the Government of Nagaland is ‘steadfastly putting in all efforts and progressing towards making Medical College functional but will need continued handholding from the Government of India on account of limited capacities,’ the release stated.
According to the release, the Conference is being held under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya and the Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel. A host of Health Ministers from different states of India including Nagaland along with the NHM Nagaland mission director Dr Thorhusie Katiry; State Programme Officer for NHM Dr Mereninla Sanlem; and NHM Nagaland Deputy Director Dr Tinurenla Anichari attended the conference which will culminate on May 7.
