BioVoice News April 2017 Issue 11 Volume 1 | Page 51

The union cabinet has recently approved the National Health Policy 2017. This move by the central government comes after a long gap of 15 years, since the last policy that was framed in 2002. The policy informs and prioritizes the role of the government in shaping health systems in all its dimensions- investment in health, organization and financing of healthcare services, prevention of diseases and promotion of good health through cross- sectoral action, access to technologies, developing human resources, encouraging medical pluralism, building the knowledge base required for better health, financial protection strategies and regulation and progressive assurance for health. The policy is aimed at reaching healthcare in an assured manner to all, particularly the underserved and underprivileged. While the policy makers say, it is to address the current and emerging challenges necessitated by the changing socio- economic, technological and epidemiological landscape, the experts feel much requires to be done at the healthcare infrastructure level. In his statement on the floor of Indian Parliament, BIOVOICENEWS.COM 51