Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhanreleased the National Health Profile 2013, here today. The annual document is prepared by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI). It covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health. CBHI has been publishing NHP every year since 2005. This is the 9th edition. Speaking at the function Dr. Harsh Vardhan emphasized on the critical importance of reliable country-wise data in all sectors of healthcare in the country covering not only public health professionals, but the various stakeholders in the healthcare sector such as even those who have traditional knowledge in different systems. Such data would enable the policymakers in sound planning and effective implementation of various schemes, he stated. He added that the country has immense potential and vast resources to strive towards excellence in any field, healthcare being just one of them. It is time that we made optimum utilization of the existing resources, he added. The country should be prepared and geared up for meeting any medical emergency, he stated. A comprehensive healthcare database showing region-wise and location-wise availability of doctors, nurses, chemists, dispensaries, private practioners and other human and health infrastructure will go a long way in building up our capacity of dealing with any health emergency, Dr Harsh Vardhan noted.
Dr Harsh Vardhan reminisced that during his visit to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, USA he discussed the criticality of global health security with the Director, CDC. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and CDC Atlanta have agreed for close cooperation and collaboration, and exchange of information aimed at strengthening each other, he informed. The Health Minister announced that it had been decided that CDC would designate a doctor who would work for better coordination of the India projects by acting as a communication bridge between the Director, CDC and India’s Health Minister. The Health Minister reiterated his intention of making health for all a social movement. He stated that India should also aim for similar excellence in health care database, as exists at DCD Atlanta, which provides a sharp focus on framing policies. Also present at the release function were Secretary Health, ShLovVerma, DGHS, DrJagdish Prasad, Secretary Department of AIDS Control ShSubburaj, Secretary AYUSH, ShNilanjanSanyal, DG ICMR, Dr V M Katoch, Director CBHIDrMadhuRaikwar, and senior officers of the ministry of Health and Family Welfare and CBHI.