Nadda Calls for Swasth Bharat to Realise Viksit Bharat

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th June: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday said the vision of a Viksit Bharat can be realised only through a Swasth Bharat, underscoring the government’s focus on expanding medical education, strengthening healthcare infrastructure and promoting preventive healthcare.

Addressing the 10th Convocation of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi, Nadda congratulated the graduating students and described ILBS as a globally recognised institution known for excellence in patient care, medical education, research and innovation.

Highlighting the institute’s contribution to public health, he said ILBS has played a pioneering role in creating nationwide awareness about fatty liver disease through clinical services, research and public outreach.

The Health Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has simultaneously strengthened both the “hardware” and “software” of medical education by expanding healthcare infrastructure while creating a supportive policy and academic ecosystem for students, researchers and healthcare professionals.

Citing the expansion of medical education, Nadda said the number of AIIMS has increased to 23, while medical colleges have grown from 387 to 818. Undergraduate medical seats have risen from around 50,000 to over 1.20 lakh, and postgraduate seats have expanded from approximately 30,000 to more than 80,000. He added that nearly 25,000 additional MBBS seats have already been created towards the government’s target of adding 75,000 seats over the next five years.

Emphasising the importance of primary healthcare, the Minister said more than 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established across the country, serving as the first point of healthcare access for millions of citizens.

He highlighted the achievements of preventive health screening programmes, stating that over 42 crore people have been screened for hypertension and diabetes, leading to the detection of over 7.3 crore hypertension cases and nearly 5 crore diabetes cases. Screening programmes have also identified more than 2.3 lakh oral cancer cases, over 86,000 breast cancer cases, and around one lakh cervical cancer cases, demonstrating the importance of early diagnosis and timely intervention.

Addressing the graduating doctors, Nadda described super-speciality education as both a privilege and a responsibility. He urged them to uphold the highest standards of medical ethics, preserve compassion in patient care and dedicate themselves to serving society with integrity and excellence.

The Minister said India’s healthcare transformation rests on strong institutions, skilled medical professionals and preventive healthcare, expressing confidence that the graduating specialists would play a vital role in building a healthier and stronger nation.