New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare unveiled its Health Pavilion today at the 43rd India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Bharat Mandapam, with a focus on the theme ‘One Health’—an integrated approach emphasizing the health connections between humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. The pavilion was inaugurated by Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog, alongside Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava.
Dr. Paul praised the significant progress made in India’s healthcare landscape over the last decade, calling it an “inflection point” in achieving Universal Health Coverage and bolstering human resources and disease prevention. Reflecting on the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat, Dr. Paul emphasized that initiatives underway will not only advance India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also bring the nation closer to meeting health indicators on par with developed countries.
Highlighting recent achievements, Dr. Paul noted that India has screened over 5 crore individuals for sickle cell anemia, moving towards the goal of 8 crore screenings. He also spoke on progress in Mental Health, Oral Health, and Family Planning programs, reflecting the shift to a holistic approach to healthcare in India.
Key initiatives supporting this vision include the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, and the establishment of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which provide primary healthcare services across the country.
India’s efforts toward disease elimination were also highlighted. “India is on track to eliminate or is close to eliminating seven diseases, including Measles, Rubella, Trachoma, Kala-Azar, TB, Leprosy, and Lymphatic Filariasis, within the next five years,” Dr. Paul stated. He also added that significant infrastructure development is in progress to achieve these goals, with Malaria elimination set to follow closely.
Dr. Paul encouraged attendees to explore the pavilion’s experience stalls, which illustrate progress across diverse health initiatives. These include interactive displays and multimedia presentations aimed at educating visitors on India’s journey towards better healthcare.
Also present at the event were Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary, Health Ministry; Roli Singh, Additional Secretary, Health Ministry; Rajiv Wadhawan, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry; and other senior officials.
The Health Pavilion at IITF will be open to the public throughout the fair, inviting visitors to engage with India’s transformative health initiatives under the One Health vision.