Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for establishing mechanisms to ensure accountability of doctors and health officials in the public sector and a road map for curtailing child and maternal mortality.
Chairing a meeting on healthcare, Mr. Modi instructed the Health Ministry to improve the efficiency of existing mechanisms and schemes. He expressed concern over the prevalence of diseases like encephalitis, especially among children, and instructed the Ministry officials to prepare a road map to tackle such diseases, and also prepare a follow-up action plan on making SAARC a polio-free region.
According to officials, the Prime Minister called for reviewing the progress of key health indicators such as under-five mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio and asked for specific identification of worst performing districts, and even within them, particular blocks which required maximum attention.
Giving inputs on how to address concerns, he said these areas should be targeted in a two-pronged approach — prioritised health intervention, and appropriate social interventions to dispel local beliefs and customs that may be hindering progress.
To educate women on health and hygiene, he suggested screening of animation films at health centres immediately post-delivery and introduction of simple technology interventions such as SMS to reach ASHA workers across the country on a real-time basis.
The effects of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan should be visible in hospitals, he said.
Describing yoga as one of the most effective preventive health mechanisms, the Prime Minister asked the Health Ministry to draw up plans for International Yoga Day on June 21.
