National Health Ministers’ Conclave on Universal Health Coverage Day 2022 Concludes in Varanasi

Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, addressed the Health Ministers' Conclave closing ceremony on 11th December. The conclave was held to commemorate Universal Health Coverage Day in 2022.

The theme was "Building the World We Want: A Healthy Future for All." Banna Gupta, Minister of Health of Jharkhand, M K Sharma, Minister of Health of Sikkim, Dhan Singh Rawat, Minister of Health of Uttarakhand, and Dr. Sapan Rajan, Minister of Health of Sikkim, were also present. Adityanath emphasized India's success in managing the COVID pandemic, saying the country has been a model for COVID management and vaccination worldwide.

He said, "while people worldwide protested against government restrictions, in India, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, COVID guidelines and regulations were enthusiastically followed by 140 million people." He stated that India used the pandemic to revamp its health infrastructure rapidly.

He also emphasized that India produces high-quality vaccines whose efficacy has been demonstrated worldwide. The UP Chief Minister stated at the event that India's health sector has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last eight years. He emphasized that "from only 6 AIIMS in 2014, there are now 22 AIIMS either operational or on the verge of starting operations across the country."

He also emphasised the remarkable impact of flagship schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, Poshan Abhiyan, and Mission Indradhanush on health deliverables. Shri Adityanath elaborated on further strengthening the functioning of the Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) in UP, stating that "every health and wellness centre will have teleconsultation available as well as regularly disperse medicine."

Health ATMs will be installed at all HWCs for this purpose. He also emphasized the importance of increasing public awareness about health-seeking behaviour and inter-ministerial collaborations to achieve healthcare outcomes. Dr. Mandaviya stated that the two-day brainstorming session would contribute to rethinking and improving India's healthcare sector.

"These two days with Chintan and Manan in Varanasi have provided us with vast knowledge to strengthen HWCs through policy reforms, ensuring that they function as strong hubs for last-mile delivery of healthcare services to communities," he said. He described HWCs as "temples of health and wellness," implying their critical role.

The Union Health Minister also praised the work of healthcare implementers such as Community Health Officers (CHOs) and ASHA workers. "The CHOs are the pivotal link operating at the cutting edge and providing primary health care services at the grassroots," he said. They are the field's health army. Their contribution is critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage goals."

Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, and Telangana were recognized for achieving HWC operationalization targets.

On occasion, they also released the Operational Guidelines for Wellness Activities at AB-HWCs, the Operational Guidelines for the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele-MANAS), and the Training Module for CHOs on Management of Acute Simple Illness, as well as the SASHAKT portal. The second day of the Health Ministers' Conclave 2022 featured panel discussions with eminent thought leaders on disease elimination and progress on PMJAY.

Presentations by Community Health Officers on issues, challenges, and best practices in clinical and public health functions, managerial functions, community connect & AYUSH integration, and IT initiatives were also included in the sessions. Around 900 Community Health Officers and Medical Officers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand attended the Conclave.