Union Health Secretary C.K. Mishra said the newly announced National Health Policy is aimed at improving access to healthcare.
Speaking here on Monday on the occasion of Indian Institute of Public Health’s 10th Foundation Day celebrations, Mr. Mishra said the policy marks a shift in tackling infectious disease to tackling non-communicable disease mainly cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, in the present times.
Earlier policies prioritised infectious diseases.
Despite the change, the objectives of improving access to healthcare remain the same he said.
The government’s aim is to improve access to healthcare, provide affordable healthcare and improve standards of public healthcare across the country, the Secretary added.
The National Health Policy requires government hospitals to provide a set of services and talks about strengthening primary healthcare through greater allocation of resources, he said. President of Public Health Foundation of India K. Srinath and staff of IIPH were present at the event.
