Union Health Minister Nadda Announces Healthcare Expansion Plans in MP

The new initiatives include the launch of the smart chatbot ‘Ayushman Sakhi’ and the distribution of 8 lakh Vay Vandana PVC cards for senior citizens.

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has announced a series of centrally sponsored health programmes in Madhya Pradesh aimed at strengthening public health and expanding community outreach.

The new initiatives include the launch of the smart chatbot ‘Ayushman Sakhi,’ the distribution of 8 lakh Vay Vandana PVC cards for senior citizens, the achievement of one crore screenings under the Swasthya Yakrit Mission, the launch of the ‘Asha Samvaad’ platform for frontline workers, and a maternal nutrition awareness campaign supported by new educational materials and an updated Mother & Child Protection Card.

Alongside these programme launches, Nadda also inaugurated new Government Medical Colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli.

Agreements were signed for the establishment of four more medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh under the Public-Private Partnership model with support from the Union Health Ministry.

Madhya Pradesh’s Stats

According to official data shared during the event, “With 17 Government Medical Colleges and 13 Private Medical Colleges, Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a strong performer in the health sector.”

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav underlined the state’s progress as, “Before 2003, there were only 5 medical colleges. Today, the state has 17 government and 13 private medical colleges along with AIIMS Bhopal.

Now, with the addition of Sheopur and Singrauli, the total government colleges has reached 19. We are confident this number will rise to 26 soon.”

The state government has allocated land at ₹1 per acre for setting up PPP-mode medical colleges, which Yadav described as “a monumental step” to further strengthen infrastructure.

The Union Health Minister highlighted measurable improvements in maternal and child health indicators.

“Every year, nearly 2 crore children and 2.5 crore pregnant women are monitored under our healthcare system, and institutional deliveries have risen to 89%.”

He also shared data on falling mortality rates, mentioning that the maternal mortality ratio has dropped from 130 to 93 per lakh live births, under-five mortality has reduced by 42% compared to a global average of 14%, and neonatal mortality has declined by 39% against a global decline of 11%.

Progress in screening for non-communicable diseases was also reported. Nationwide, 39 crore people have been screened for hypertension, with 5.2 crore diagnosed, and another 39 crore screened for diabetes, with 3.5 crore diagnosed.

Cancer screening has reached significant coverage,33 crore for oral cancer, 10.3 crore for cervical cancer, and 17 crore for breast cancer.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme was reiterated as the “world’s largest health coverage programme” with 50 crore beneficiaries. The Vay Vandana initiative extends protection to those over 70 years of age, irrespective of socio-economic status.

Nadda also pointed to the broader national achievements in medical education and pandemic response.

The number of medical colleges has doubled from 387 in 2014 to 780, while undergraduate seats have risen from 56,000 to 1.7 lakh.

He confirmed the government’s plan to add 75,000 more UG and PG seats in the next five years. Out-of-pocket expenditure on health has come down from 62% to 39%.

Referring to India’s role in the global COVID-19 response, the Minister said the country developed two vaccines within nine months of the outbreak and supplied doses to over 100 countries, including 48 that received vaccines free under Vaccine Maitri.

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