Nadda says health security is national security; inaugurates 10 critical care blocks, 12 labs in AP
Amaravati, Sept 12 (TNT): Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Saturday said health security was national security and stressed the need for a resilient healthcare system capable of responding to public health emergencies while ensuring continuity of routine services.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating 10 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) and 12 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) in Andhra Pradesh in the presence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Nadda said the new facilities marked an important step towards strengthening the State’s health-security architecture.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had demonstrated how quickly a health emergency could turn into an economic, social and national crisis, underscoring the need for adequate critical-care, laboratory, isolation and emergency-response capacities.
The Union Minister said the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) represented a shift from a hospital-centric approach to a health-system approach, integrating preventive, primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.
Under PM-ABHIM, the Centre has sanctioned 631 Critical Care Blocks across States and Union Territories. In Andhra Pradesh, Rs 1,271.80 crore has been approved for the five-year scheme period covering CCBs, IPHLs, Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Rural Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Nadda said 24 CCBs had been sanctioned in Andhra Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs 606 crore, while 26 IPHLs had been sanctioned with an allocation of Rs 32.50 crore.
Civil works of all 26 IPHLs have been completed, with 14 already functional and the remaining 12 inaugurated on Saturday.
He said laboratories were not merely diagnostic facilities but an important component of national health security, as early detection was crucial for effectively responding to disease outbreaks.
Nadda also praised Andhra Pradesh’s performance in immunisation and its Sanjeevani programme, which facilitates testing for 41 health parameters.
He said the State’s experience could provide useful models for strengthening primary healthcare nationally.
Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, senior officials, doctors and healthcare professionals were present.
TNT KM
