New Delhi: With an aim to achieve rapid transition in India's health care system, the Union Health Ministry and World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday launched WHO India country cooperation strategy 2019-23: A time of transition.
The strategy for five years was launched in the form of a booklet by Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.
"The country cooperation strategy covers a period of five years 2019-2023 and sets out the broad strategic priorities and corresponding focus programme areas. The period of this CCS is expected to bring rapid and significant changes to India's health sector and to improve access to quality health care, especially to the vulnerable and underserved populations," said Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Admitting that there are still some challenges in India's health sector, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that WHO India has been working closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Minister on the health agenda of the country.
The CCS outlines four priority areas like accelerating progress on universal health coverage, promoting health and wellness by addressing the determinants of health, better protecting the population against health emergencies, and enhancing India's global leadership.
WHO representative to India, Dr Henk Bekedam said that health has taken the centre-stage of the public policy narrative in India.
"The commitment to a 'Healthy India' is well reflected in the National Health Policy 2027. Adopting a continuum of care approach, the programme holistically addresses health care-covering promotions, prevention, treatment, ambulatory and palliative care-at primary, secondary and tertiary levels," said Dr Bekedam.
The WHO India country cooperation strategy 2019-2023 was made following discussions with stakeholders from health sectors, state governments opinion as well as opinions of the Union Health Ministry.