Second inter-ministerial meeting between health and AYUSH ministries generates momentum

The second inter-ministerial meeting between the ministries of Health and Family Welfare and AYUSH generated momentum for achieving synergy and effective coordination between the two. Many definitive steps were decided to resolve the pending issues. The meeting was held under the guidance of Mansukh Mandaviya, MoHFW; Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of AYUSH and Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai, MoS, AYUSH. The senior-most officials of both the ministries discussed the steps and processes of effective coordination and convergence that need to take place between the two.

The issues that were discussed during the meeting are the inclusion of AYUSH packages in AB PM-JAY, integrating AYUSH services in service package of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and integrating AYUSH module into the Community Health Officer (CHO) training, support for integrative Cancer Care Centre at NCI, Jhajjar, recognising household as 4th-tier healthcare level and integration of AYUSH in new and upcoming AIIMS, along with many other issues.

Health Minister Mandaviya referred to the last meeting held on 12th August, 2021 among the ministers and senior officers of both the ministries and highlighted the importance of ‘Health for All’ goal which can be achieved through integration of healthcare systems. He further stated that as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, a whole health approach needs to be adopted. He further stated that coordination between the two ministries must be ensured and desired to have one meeting between the two ministries every month.

Sonowal, while referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of moving hand-in-hand, stated that the integration will be beneficial for the people of the country. He agreed with the health minister and added that the process of the integration needs to be strengthened so that people get benefitted by the extended healthcare services to maintain good health.

Adding further, Mahendrabhai said, “We need to formulate a long-term roadmap to achieve the integration between healthcare systems from both the ministries.”

He mentioned that integration in healthcare delivery system of both the ministries will pave the way for better, accessible and affordable healthcare services to the public at large.

Other senior officials who participated in the discussion included Dr RS Sharma, CEO, NHA; Dr Sunil Kumar, DGHS; Dr Dharmendra Singh Gangwar, AS&FA; Alok Saxena, AS, MoH&FW; Kavita Garg, JS, MoA; Lav Agrawal, JS, MoH&FW; Dr Vipul Aggarwal, Deputy CEO, NHA, Vishal Chauhan, JS, MoH&FW; Dr Angel, AIIMS and D Senthil Pandiyan, JS, Ministry of AYUSH.