Daijiworld Media Network - Moradabad

Moradabad, Mar 15: Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the government has significantly strengthened India’s healthcare infrastructure, expanded medical education and improved access to quality treatment over the past 11 years.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of Teerthanker Mahaveer University in Moradabad, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister said the number of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has increased from six earlier to 23, boosting tertiary healthcare services and opportunities for medical education and research.

Nadda said India has also made notable progress in maternal and child health. According to global estimates, the country’s Maternal Mortality Ratio has declined by around 86 per cent, compared to the global reduction of about 48 per cent.

Highlighting the fight against tuberculosis, he said India has achieved a 21 per cent reduction in TB incidence, which is higher than the 12 per cent global decline reported by the World Health Organization.

The minister also noted that out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare has reduced significantly from 62.6 per cent to 39.4 per cent, easing the financial burden on citizens.

Referring to findings published in The Lancet, Nadda said nearly 90 per cent of cancer patients in India begin treatment within 20 days, reflecting improvements in early diagnosis and treatment access.

He also highlighted the impact of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, describing it as the world’s largest health coverage programme that provides insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. According to him, the scheme has benefited more than 71 crore people.

Addressing graduating students, Nadda said their achievements were the result of collective support from families, teachers and institutions, and urged them to uphold a strong sense of social responsibility in their careers and contribute to society.