Ms. Melinda Gates, Co-Chair & Trustee, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation called on the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda, here today. They discussed various issues relating to the health sector in India. During the meeting, Ms. Gates expressed appreciation for the initiatives taken by the Ministry towards strengthening the health systems, particularly in the primary health care, in addition to the success of full immunization through Mission Indradhanush and the resolve and commitment to launch new vaccines to protect the children and India’s population from various diseases. The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda, stated that the Government is committed to providing universal health coverage to all citizens through newly declared scheme on Health Insurance. He added that the Government understands the significance of improving the delivery of public health provisions including vaccination, family planning and maternal health outcomes, in promoting all-round growth and development of women and children, who are the bedrock of a healthy nation.
The Health Minister appreciated the efforts of Gates Foundation in complimenting the efforts of the Government in the health sector, which has enhanced the capacity of the health workers for more effective implementation of the projects.The Health Minister elaborated on the new initiatives of the Government such as Mission Indradhanush aimed to cover all missed-out and left-out children with cover of full immunization and the successes within the nation-wide initiative. He also stated that Rotavirus will soon be introduced in select states in the first phase. Commending the health initiatives taken by the Government Ms. Gates stated that the advances made in the area of immunization, Family Planning, Kala Azar, Health Systems Strengthening are indeed appreciable. The measures taken to increase the basket of choices for contraceptives are a progressive move, she said. Also present in the meeting were, Dr. (Prof) Jagdish Prasad, DGHS, Shri C K Mishra, AS&MD, and other senior officers of the Health Ministry and representatives of Gates Foundation.