BackDrugs price capping resulted in saving Rs12,500 cr for patients: Kovind
Kovind says due to the decisions taken by his govt, medical expenses of the poor and the middle class have been reduced considerablyThe president also says the government has been focusing on ‘preventive and curative’ healthcare
PremiumNEW DELHI : Government’s initiative of capping of prices of more than 1,000 essential medicines has resulted in a saving of Rs12,500 crore for the patients, President Ram Nath Kovind said in his speech to the joint session of the Parliament on Friday.
Kovind said that due to the decisions taken by his government, medical expenses of the poor and the middle class have been reduced considerably.
“Reduced cost of stents and knee-implants has provided huge relief to lakhs of patients Every day 5 to 7 lakh patients are now purchasing medicines for serious ailments at affordable prices from more than 6,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras," said Kovind in his speech.
The president said that the government has been focusing on “preventive and curative" healthcare. “Serious efforts are being made at every level in preventive and curative healthcare. Many schemes such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, Poshan Abhiyan, Fit India Movement, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, are contributing to improving the health of the people," he said.
Kovind said that the government has a special focus on women and their health. Pointing out that even today, there are about 15 crore houses without piped water supply in rural areas of the country, Kovind said that women face the maximum hardship due to lack of water supply in the house. Further, contaminated water adversely impacts the health of the entire family.
“In order to ensure the availability of sufficient quantity of potable drinking water to each rural household in the country, my Government has launched the Jal Jeevan Mission. Central Government, all State Governments, local bodies and voluntary organizations are working together to transform this Mission into a people’s movement," said Kovind.
The president also announced that soon Rs3.60 lakh crore will be spent on this scheme (Jal Jeewan Mission). “My Government has launched the Atal Bhujal Yojana with special focus on seven of the most vulnerable States of the country, where ground water level is depleting rapidly," he said.
Emphasizing on other initiatives towards women, the President said the government is making special efforts to improve the women’s health. “Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, about Rs5 thousand crore has been transferred by the Government directly to the bank accounts of 1 crore 20 lakh women of the country. Under Mission Indradhanush, 3 crore 50 lakh infants and about 90 lakh pregnant women have been vaccinated," he said.
“Benefits of these schemes are particularly visible in areas inhabited by dalits and tribals. My Government has also started making oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins ‘Suvidha’ available for just one rupee," he said.
Mentioning about the recently constituted National Medical Commission, Kovind said that the government aims to reform medical education and healthcare. “At least 75 new medical colleges have been sanctioned this year, which will result in an increase in MBBS seats by about 16,000 and PG seats by more than 4,000. In addition, 22 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been sanctioned for various parts of the country, construction work for which is in progress," said Kovind.
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