Union Health Minister Chairs High-Level Review with MP and Chhattisgarh; Pushes Mission-Mode Healthcare Reforms and TB Mukt Bharat.
New Delhi:
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda today chaired a high-level review meeting with the Health Ministers and senior officials of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to evaluate healthcare delivery and accelerate implementation of national health programmes. The discussions focused on strengthening public health systems, enhancing patient satisfaction, advancing drug regulation, and progressing toward the national goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB).
The meeting underscored the need for robust drug regulation, with continuous monitoring of the supply chain—from manufacture to distribution—to ensure quality and safety. The Health Minister emphasised that improving patient satisfaction and strengthening regulatory supervision should be treated as an ongoing mission.
On the Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics schemes, Nadda directed both States to enhance supply-chain systems and close monitoring gaps. He informed that the Ministry is collaborating with IIM Ahmedabad to improve logistics, transparency, and accountability in drug and diagnostic procurement.
Highlighting the importance of diagnostics, the Minister said timely testing is central to effective healthcare delivery at all levels—primary, secondary, and tertiary. He also stressed the need for professional hospital management alongside strong regulatory compliance, with particular focus on blood banks, hospital systems, and safety protocols.
Technology-driven solutions such as telemedicine were highlighted as crucial tools to expand access to quality healthcare, especially in remote areas. Nadda encouraged both States to integrate telemedicine into routine service delivery to ensure uninterrupted specialist consultations.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to eliminating TB, the Minister called for district-specific interventions, including intensified screening, diagnostics, treatment adherence, and nutritional support. He emphasised that TB elimination must proceed in mission mode with close monitoring at district and block levels.
To strengthen local engagement, Nadda proposed sensitisation workshops for MLAs to encourage active interaction with Block Medical Officers and Chief Medical Officers. He underlined that people’s participation (Jan Bhagidari) is vital for accountability, improving outcomes, and building public trust in government health initiatives.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Public Health and Medical Education of Madhya Pradesh, Rajendra Shukla, and Health Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, assured full cooperation with the Union Ministry to enhance programme implementation and outcomes.
The Health Minister reiterated the Centre’s support through National Health Mission interventions, public-private partnership models, expansion of medical education, viability gap funding, and infrastructure support to ensure accessible and modern healthcare systems in both States. He also highlighted the focus on prioritising leprosy management in Chhattisgarh, with technical guidance and capacity building from the Centre. Similar consultative meetings with other States will follow as part of a mission-mode approach to health reforms.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to strengthen drug regulation, improve diagnostics, professionalise hospital administration, expand medical education capacity, and accelerate progress toward a TB-free India, reinforcing the spirit of cooperative federalism in public health.
Senior officials from both States and the Union Ministry of Health, including Union Health Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma, CEO of National Health Authority Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Additional Secretary and MD NHM Aradhana Patnaik, CEO FSSAI Rajit Punhani, and DCGI Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, participated in the meeting.
