Why in News?

• The Union Health Minister Shri Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the 13th Conference of Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) in New Delhi.

Highlights:

• Health ministers from 13 states and UTs participated in the event.
• The minister stated that the purpose of the CCHFW meeting was to build a consensus on the national health priorities i.e. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through Ayushman Bharat, eliminating TB and other priority agenda such as strengthening medical infrastructure.
• A member of the NITI Aayog opined that the two priority areas underscored by the Aayog are:
  • Increasing the health budgets by the Centre and the States/UTs.
  • Enhancing Health Infrastructure
• The minister also launched ‘Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN)’ for Zero Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths, its website and the grievance redressal portal.
• He also released the Report on National Diabetes & Diabetic Retinopathy Survey India 2015-19 and Report on National Blindness & Visual Impairment Survey India 2015-19, because 10th October is also ‘World Sight Day’.
• In addition, the minister also released guidelines on drugs, diagnostic services, biomedical equipment management and maintenance under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program.

Council of Health and Family Welfare:

• It is an apex advisory body to consider and recommend broad lines of policy in regard to matters concerning health and family welfare.
• The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare is the Chairperson, while the Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare is the Vice-Chairperson.
• Its first meeting was held in 1988.