Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan along with several State Health Ministers today launched Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan, SUMAN, initiative during the 13th Conference of Central Council of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi.

The initiative aims at assuring dignified, respectful and quality health care at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services for every woman and newborn visiting the public health facility in order to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths. It also provides a positive birth experience to both mother and infant.

Addressing the Conference, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, giving top priority to universal health coverage is the need of the hour and Centre is very much committed to it. He said, lots of reforms are happening in the medical education and government is committed to increase the number of medical colleges which are expected to deliver quality medical education and improve the curriculum and courses.
Speaking to media on the sideline of the event, the Minister said, as per survey conducted in the recent past, the number of cases of blindness in the country has decreased from 0.68 per cent to 0.38 per cent. Replying to a query on increasing cases related to mental health, the Minister said, mental health is among the high priorities of the government and policies have been framed to strengthen the mental health facility across the nation.
AIR correspondent reports that several State Health Ministers and officials are deliberating on sensitive health issues prevailing in the country and effective solutions to these problems.