Adopt schools & counsel students on preventive healthcare, VP tells private hospitals

Bengaluru: The Vice President of India, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu has called upon private hospitals, medical colleges, nursing institutions and people in medical fraternity to adopt schools in their respective neighborhoods and counsel the students on preventive healthcare.

Referring to the growing incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including cancer, heart disorders and diabetes, Mr Naidu pointed out that modern lifestyle changes were aggravating NCDS. He wanted the medical fraternity, including the private hospitals and other institutions, to reach out to schools and colleges and create awareness among the students on the dangers of lifestyle diseases.

Inaugurating MGM Healthcare in Chennai today, the Vice President urged doctors, actors and media houses to adopt professional social responsibility on the lines of corporate social responsibility to create awareness among people, particularly the youth, on the need to avoid physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits.

Mr Naidu called for launching a national movement against the growing incidence of NCDs. Quoting World Health Organization’s data released in 2017, Mr Naidu observed that about 61 percent of deaths in India were attributed to NCDs, including heart disorders, cancer and diabetes. He also wanted the Indian Medical Association to take the lead in promoting awareness among the people, particularly school and college students.

Mr Naidu said that there was an urgent need to establish NCD clinics in both urban and rural areas and the private sector must play a prominent role in setting up such clinics.

Pointing out that despite the improved reach of healthcare delivery, he said there was a huge disparity in the healthcare services provided between urban and rural areas, the Vice President called upon the private sector and hospitals like MGM Healthcare to step in and complement the efforts of the government in reaching modern healthcare facilities to the rural areas, including the remote places.

The Vice President said that the Aayushman Bharath scheme launched by the government was a step in the right direction as it provides comprehensive insurance coverage to 10 crore poor and vulnerable families and seeks to establish 150,000 health and wellness centres across India.

Expressing concern over the shortage of around 600,000 doctors and two million nurses, he wanted both the private and the public sector to join hands to remedy the situation and also suggested the setting up of more medical colleges, hospitals and health infrastructure that can deliver affordable diagnostic and treatment services to the people.

Mr Naidu also called for adopting the Public Private Partnership model to bridge the gap in providing technically advanced primary and secondary healthcare centers, especially in rural areas.