Healthcare must be affordable for all: Health Secretary
BS RAWAT
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has said that healthcare should be available, affordable and accessible to all. He also expressed the hope of achieving a corona mortality rate of less than 1% in the country.
Addressing a virtual conclave ‘Clinical Protocol and Case Management in Covid-19’, jointly organized by FICCI and AIIMS, Mr Bhushan said, “We must ensure that no Covid-19 patient is left untreated and our system should be available, affordable and accessible for every Indian.”
Prof Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR, informed that every day is a new learning for Covid response. We now have Covid testing capability in each district of the country and the government is trying to further scale it up.
Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, highlighted the importance of following evidence-based treatment protocols given the huge heterogeneity in the current treatment modules, leading to increased mortality.
Dr Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI, clarified, “This is the time when we need to exchange best practices and evolve most effective care guidelines using collective knowledge and experience. This will go a long-way in augmenting the Public-Private Partnerships in healthcare for the country.”
Dr Reddy also acknowledged the unconditional commitment and immense efforts being made by all the healthcare workers across the country.
The event was attended by more than 150 hospital representatives, senior doctors and clinicians from across the country.