Work Fast to Eliminate Sickle Cell Disease from India: Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar

GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 23rd Feb. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Tribal Affairs, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, chaired a comprehensive review meeting concerning the implementation and progress of health sector schemes in Maharashtra.

Held at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai, the meeting saw the presence of key officials including Milind Mhaiskar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, Government of Maharashtra, and Saroj Kumar, Director of NHM-III, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), among others.

Various schemes and programs such as PM-ABHIM, Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) Certification, Ayushman Arogya Mandir, PMSSY, PMJAY, TB Elimination Programme, PMNDP, Cancer Care, and AYUSH hospitals were meticulously reviewed and discussed during the session.

Addressing the gathering, MoS (HFW) Dr. Bharati Pawar emphasized the significance of central government-funded schemes in bolstering healthcare infrastructure and ensuring effective patient care nationwide. She stressed the need to intensify mass screening for sickle cell anaemia in tribal areas and advocated for mandatory screening of the disease during pregnant women’s health check-ups, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of eradicating the ailment from the country.

Dr. Bharati Pawar highlighted the ongoing construction of medical laboratories and critical care blocks under the PM-ABHIM scheme in Maharashtra, alongside the conversion of over 11 thousand health centers into Ayushman Arogya Mandir. Emphasizing the expansion of medical education seats, she mentioned the ongoing establishment of medical colleges in Nandurbar and Gondia.

Furthermore, she encouraged the utilization of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the health sector, citing its effectiveness, and called for the establishment of more chemotherapy centers for enhanced cancer diagnosis and treatment. Stressing the importance of cancer control programs, the Minister urged for their effective implementation in the state.

In terms of achievements, it was noted that over 69 lakh patients in Maharashtra have availed the teleconsultation facility e-Sanjeevani, while approximately 24 lakh beneficiaries have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) scheme in the state.