Brajesh Pathak Advocates for Disease Prevention and Enhanced Rural Healthcare, ET HealthWorld
Lucknow: Deputy Chief Minister and health minister Brajesh Pathak emphasised the importance of disease prevention and improving healthcare access in rural areas at The Times of India and NBT’s ‘Icons of Health 2024′ event on Wednesday.
Pathak expressed his gratitude to The Times of India and NBT for organising the event since 2015. He noted that the event was held regularly to honour those who made exceptional contributions to the medical field. “Today, doctors making a positive impact are being recognised and appreciated for their contributions to society,” he said. “We also express our gratitude to The Times of India for giving us the opportunity to work in the healthcare sector since 2022,” Pathak added.
The health minister highlighted the critical need for disease prevention, particularly in rural areas where access to quality healthcare remains limited. He emphasised that people often visit doctors only when they are already sick but tend to neglect preventive healthcare measures. For instance, he pointed out the annual outbreaks of dengue following the monsoon season, urging the public to take immediate steps to prevent mosquito breeding. “We allow mosquitoes to breed and we must stop it,” he urged, calling for greater awareness and action from the community.
Pathak also proposed that large medical institutions, medical colleges and private healthcare centres collaborate with local leaders, such as village heads and community members, to educate and train people on disease prevention. He recognised the significant influence that retired individuals, such as teachers and soldiers, have in rural areas. These individuals, with their knowledge and experience, can play a key role in spreading awareness and guiding the community on health matters. “They should be made aware of diseases and their prevention through workshops,” he added.
Further, the deputy chief minister stressed that at least 70% of current diseases are self-inflicted, with environmental factors, such as dust and smoke, particularly affecting workers in high-risk industries like coal mining. “We need to consider steps to improve our medical system and raise awareness in society to prevent the spread of diseases,” he stated. He emphasised the importance of regular healthcare and the incorporation of Ayurveda and natural remedies, such as cumin, turmeric and other household solutions, to maintain good health.
Discussing improvements made in the healthcare sector, Pathak highlighted the establishment of health centres that provide essential medicines for common illnesses like fever and pain. He mentioned that in his area, with a population of approximately 25,000, about 21,000 people are already covered by primary health services. Across Uttar Pradesh, there are over 3,600 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and 950 Community Health Centres (CHCs) that offer a wide range of services, including regular OPD care and maternity services.
In addition to these primary services, world-class medical institutions like KGMU, SGPGIMS and AIIMS, along with 85 district hospitals and 65 medical colleges, are now fully operational. Prior to 2017, there were only 17 medical colleges. Govt has also tripled the number of MBBS seats and doubled the number of postgraduate seats, ensuring a greater availability of trained medical professionals. Pathak also mentioned the implementation of an online system, the Sanjeevani app, which helps monitor serious medical cases and provides daily assistance to around 70,000-80,000 people.
Pathak further elaborated on the development of community health centres, which are equipped to handle more complex treatments. He focused on improving maternal healthcare, with the goal of increasing the institutional delivery rate from 86% to 100%. This would ensure that more women receive proper care during childbirth, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
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