Nadda recommends PPP to enhance dialysis, diagnostics and pathology services

Union Health Minister was speaking at the scientific symposium, organised by Dr Lal PathLabs

Union Health Minister JP Nadda urged the private sector to join hands with the government and be part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in three areas – Prime Minister Dialysis Scheme, free diagnostics facilities to rural people and strengthening of National Institute of Pathology.

Nadda was speaking during the two-day scientific symposium, organised by Dr Lal PathLabs, to mark the 100th Birth Anniversary of its Founder. The symposium focused on new technologies for quality and affordable pathology.

“The government is committed to take PM Dialysis Yojna to the district level and provide free facilities to families under the BPL category. Proposals for 400 centres through the PPP model has already been approved. The government cannot do it alone and reputable and leading private players like Dr Lal PathLabs need to come together,” Nadda said.

“The government will provide full support to private players which have expertise, brand and credibility and can provide quality and affordable facilities to a large number of people,” he said.

“PPP model will help the rural population where Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) will be equipped with world class diagnostic facilities, which will be offered free for BPL and will be affordable for APL and other categories. The government stands committed in this regard but due to lack of infrastructure, government healthcare units alone will not be in a position to cater to the needs,” he added.

Thanking patients, clients and investors for their continued support to Dr Lal Pathlabs (Hony) Brig Dr Arvind Lal, CMD, Dr Lal PathLabs said, “We have reached this far by adhering to the highest standards of quality, service and ethics. Today, we dedicate ourselves to strengthen our Research and Development (R&D) division to introduce low cost high-end tests for the economically weaker sections of our society and make them available to all our countrymen all over India.”

During the inaugural session, Lt Gen M K Unni, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) and Dr Soumya Swaminathan, DG, ICMR highlighted the challenges and the way forward for pathology in India. They also stressed upon capacity building, new technologies, innovations to reduce laboratory expenses and improving patients care through integration.

The two-day event saw eminent national and international researchers, specialists and academia deliberate on topics related to renal and transplantation pathology, liquid biopsies, acute leukemias and HSCT, newer innovations in microbiology, lab management and point of care testing, diagnostics in reproductive genetics, neuro technology advances in diagnostics and clinical practice etc.

Speakers were of the view that accurate diagnosis is going to be the hallmark of universal healthcare, a goal acknowledged by the Government of India and accepted globally. They also emphasised that it must be remembered that 70 per cent of all clinical and medical decisions are made on the basis of pathology test reports.

EH News Bureau