Om Birla Inaugurates Ashoka Health City in Nashik

• Om Birla inaugurates Ashoka Health City in Nashik.
• Calls for affordable, quality healthcare to reach the last person in society.
• Urges greater collaboration between government and private sector in healthcare and research.
• Stresses need for innovation to tackle emerging diseases.

GG News Bureau
Nashik, 13th July: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday inaugurated Ashoka Health City in Nashik, Maharashtra, and called for stronger collaboration between the government and private sector to ensure affordable, quality healthcare reaches the last person in society.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Birla said universal access to quality healthcare should remain a national priority and stressed that public and private institutions must work together to strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem.

Highlighting the need for preventive healthcare, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently promoted healthy living and that Yoga has become an integral part of people’s lives across the world. He urged citizens to adopt Yoga and environmentally sustainable lifestyles to lead healthier lives.

Birla noted that the government has significantly expanded medical infrastructure by increasing medical college seats and implementing flagship initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat. He added that private sector participation has further strengthened healthcare services through new medical institutions, advanced infrastructure and improved treatment facilities.

Emphasising the importance of medical research, the Lok Sabha Speaker urged Ashoka Health City to establish research and innovation centres alongside its Mother and Child Hospital, cancer care and super-speciality services. He said healthcare institutions must prepare for challenges posed by both existing and emerging diseases through scientific research and technological advancement.

Referring to India’s achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic, Birla said Indian scientists demonstrated the country’s growing capabilities by developing vaccines that contributed to global public health. He stressed that continued investment in medical research, science and innovation is essential to address future healthcare challenges.

He also called for research and innovation centres in universities and colleges to strengthen India’s scientific ecosystem and improve preparedness against emerging diseases.

Birla praised Ashoka Health City for serving patients from Nashik and the wider North Maharashtra region. He said the newly inaugurated Mother and Child Hospital would contribute significantly to improving maternal and child healthcare and reducing infant mortality.

Concluding his address, the Lok Sabha Speaker said medical education should be closely linked with public service. He encouraged young doctors to serve in rural and remote areas to ensure quality healthcare reaches every corner of the country.

Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Rajasthan Energy Minister Hiralal Nagar, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony.