Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J. P. Nadda chaired a virtual review meeting to review the implementation and progress of key health programmes and public health initiatives in the State.

The meeting held with K. Muraleedharan, Minister for Health, Government of Kerala, focused on the implementation and progress of major flagship health programmes and initiatives in Kerala, including the TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Free Drugs Service Initiative, Free Diagnostic Service Initiative, Human Resources for Health under the National Health Mission (NHM), Medical Education, Drug Regulation, and Food Safety and Standards.

The discussions centred on further strengthening healthcare delivery, improving access to quality medicines and diagnostics, augmenting health infrastructure and human resources, enhancing medical education, strengthening regulatory oversight of drugs and blood banks, and reinforcing food safety systems across the State.

K. Muraleedharan apprised the Union Health Minister of the progress made by Kerala under various flagship health programmes and highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the State Government to further strengthen healthcare delivery.

State minister also briefed the Union Health Minister on key challenges and areas requiring Central support and reaffirmed the State Government's commitment to working in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to achieve national health priorities.

The Union Health Minister appreciated the efforts made by the State in implementing various health initiatives and assured continued support from the Government of India for further strengthening Kerala's healthcare ecosystem. 

He emphasized the importance of sustained Centre-State collaboration to ensure effective implementation of national health programmes and improved health outcomes for the people.

The meeting concluded with both the Centre and the State reaffirming their commitment to strengthening public health systems and ensuring accessible, affordable, equitable and quality healthcare services for all citizens through sustained cooperation and effective implementation of flagship health programmes.

Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Dr. Sharmila Mary Joseph, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt. Of Kerala; Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director (NHM) Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare attended the meeting. 

Also present were Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India; Amit Sharma, Executive Director, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and the Government of Kerala participated in the meeting through virtual mode.