We are constantly moving towards health centre electrification by combining health-related policies and energy-related policies with a target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022, said Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar while addressing the Second meeting of the High-Level Coalition on Health and Energy virtually.

"Already 39% of our installed capacity is from non-fossil based sources and by 2022 we will reach our target of 40%," said Dr. Pawar.  

India has also expanded its renewable energy programs and energy efficiency programs to efficiently use the energy through various innovative policy measures under the overall ambit of the Energy Conservation Act 2001.

Underlining steps taken at various fronts, the Union Minister of State informed that India has attained SDG target 7.1 of providing Universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030 by improving the electrification of 99.99% of the households.

"Also, India has successfully electrified 95% of district hospitals and around 90% of sub-divisional hospitals with a three-phased power supply. Cumulatively, almost 75% of the health centres in the country have been electrified with a cumulative solar capacity of 3.5 MW," commented Dr. Pawar. 

She informed that in the context of “Green and Climate Resilient Healthcare Facilities”, India is a signatory to the Malé Declaration in 2017 and has agreed to promote climate-resilient health- care facilities to be able to withstand any climatic event and ensure that essential services such as water sanitation, waste management, and electricity are functional during such events.

She emphasized on developing vibrant partnerships and creating synergy with other missions and ensuring that health is adequately represented in the climate change agenda across the globe. With such collaborations and collective action of this coalition group, a greener planet through the means of clean and green energy can be achieved.

Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO, Director General; Dr. Naoko Yamamoto, WHO, Assistant Director General; Dr. Maria Neira, Director, Environment, Climate and Health, WHO; and Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Member of Parliament, Sierra Leone were also present in the meeting.