Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya was unanimously elected as Chairperson the 76th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for South-East Asia in New Delhi on Monday.
According to the Health Ministry, Dr Mandaviya, addressing the session, highlighted that India is following a holistic and inclusive approach by “expanding health infrastructure, promoting traditional systems of medicine and providing affordable healthcare to all in alignment with the vison of Universal Health Coverage with the resolute commitment of leaving no one behind.” Lauding the progress of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC), he informed, “As of October 24, 2023, AB-HWCs have recorded over 2,110 million footfalls. The impact is resounding with individuals availing free drugs over 1,830 million times and diagnostic services over 873 million times”. The Union Minister further added “26 million wellness sessions have been conducted engaging more than 306 million people.”
Dr Mandaviya noted that initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and PM-ABHIM have substantially strengthened the digital health framework and physical infrastructure, catalyzing a revolutionary evolution of the health care delivery in the nation.
He also addressed the gathering at the tree plantation ceremony taking place at the WHO SEARO (Regional Office for South-East Asia) Building site, IP Estate, New Delhi stating, “The WHO SEARO building stands as a symbol of collaborative effort of India and WHO to address the global challenges with the objective of ensuring inclusive and equitable development of healthcare services in the South-East region.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO), addressing the gathering virtually, noted that the 76th Session of SEARO comes at a crucial time point in time, both globally and for the region. He highlighted that the South-East Asia region is home to more than a quarter of the world’s population and must address a significant burden of disease. Commending the efforts of the region to combat tuberculosis, Dr Tedros appreciated Dr Mandaviya’s leadership and commitment for ‘Health for All’.
