Gujarat Health Minister Proposes Key Initiatives at Central Health Council Meeting

New Delhi, July 1: Gujarat’s Health Minister, Praful Panseriya, represented the state at the 16th meeting of the Central Health and Family Welfare Council (CCHFW), chaired by Union Health Minister JP Nadda. During the meeting, he presented several significant suggestions aimed at strengthening the health sector both in Gujarat and across the country.

The meeting focused on accelerating digital transformation in the health sector, launching various digital health platforms under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Additionally, operational guidelines for the “Anemia-Free India” campaign were released. These initiatives were praised for their potential to contribute significantly to building a malnutrition-free and healthier India.

Minister Panseriya proposed several crucial recommendations to the central government. He called for the establishment of a comprehensive organ transplant facility at AIIMS, Rajkot, to provide advanced organ transplant services for patients in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions. He emphasized that this would enable timely and improved treatment for thousands of patients in western Gujarat.

Expressing concern over the rising incidents of adulteration in food and medicines, he urged the central government to amend the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to implement stricter legal provisions. He stressed the need for stringent action against those compromising public health to effectively curb adulteration crimes.

The health minister also raised alarms about the increasing and uncontrolled use of antibiotics. He noted that excessive use is leading to serious issues like antimicrobial resistance (AMR), advocating for the development and strict enforcement of an effective policy for responsible antibiotic use nationwide.

He stated that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat government is continuously working to provide quality, accessible, and modern healthcare services to every citizen. He assured that the state government will continue to collaborate with the central government to further strengthen the health sector in Gujarat.

–