Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda Conducts High-Level Review of State’s Health Situation

State Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal Places Demand Before Centre for Separate Hospitals for Eight Medical Colleges

Chhattisgarh’s Health Sector on a Fast Reform Path; Instructions Issued to Achieve TB-Free India in ‘Mission Mode’

Raipur, December 2025 : Taking decisive steps toward rapid and effective improvement in healthcare services, the Central Government chaired a high-level review meeting with Chhattisgarh to assess the state’s health sector. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, while addressing the meeting, directed states to work in mission mode in the health sector, stating that the goal of a TB-free India would be achieved within a defined timeframe and that health services would be strengthened at the grassroots through a people’s participation–based model.

The meeting was attended by State Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Health Secretary Amit Kataria, National Health Mission Mission Director Ranbir Sharma, and other senior departmental officials.

During the review, Nadda laid special emphasis on strengthening drug regulation, expanding diagnostic facilities, promoting telemedicine and patient-centric care, and ensuring wide public participation. He said that a nationwide health advisory campaign has been launched to give new direction to drug management, diagnostic services, and public health initiatives, ensuring their direct impact reaches citizens.

The Union Minister directed that all blood banks in the states strictly comply with prescribed safety standards and that their regular monitoring and inspection be made more rigorous. States were instructed to prepare concrete action plans to maximise coverage under the Free Medicines and Diagnostics Scheme, prioritise the prevention of food adulteration, and enhance food and drug testing capacity.

Special focus was laid on accelerating the tuberculosis eradication programme, with an emphasis on creating more Nikshay Mitras to provide nutritional and food support to TB patients. Nadda said that X-ray–based screening among high-risk populations would be completed at a fast pace to ensure timely diagnosis. He also directed that day-care chemotherapy services be made operational in all districts to strengthen cancer treatment.

He instructed officials to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), and Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR), while ensuring 100 per cent screening for non-communicable diseases in a target-driven manner. He also stressed quarterly active case detection campaigns for leprosy control and focused interventions to reduce MMR and IMR.

The Union Health Minister announced that 146 handheld X-ray machines would be provided to states to further strengthen the TB programme. During the meeting, the State Health Minister placed before the Centre a demand for establishing separate hospitals for eight medical colleges. Praising Chhattisgarh’s progress, Nadda assured continued central support, including additional assistance in human resources.

It was also clarified during the meeting that the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) system would continue to operate under the trust model. Testing of food and drug samples from rural areas will be increased, and states will provide necessary space for expanding food safety capacity, for which the Centre will extend financial support.

Concluding the detailed discussions, Nadda said, “The partnership between the Centre and the states is the foundation of health reforms. Our goal is not merely to expand services, but to bring outcome-oriented change so that quality healthcare reaches the last person.”