Govt to launch National Urban Health Mission for cities: Ramadoss

New Delhi, Jun 6 (UNI) The government will launch a National Urban Health Mission to provide health care service to people in cities and towns especially those living in slums.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told reporters here today the mission was at the conceptual stage at present. However, it would be launched this year, he added.

The idea to launch the National Urban Health Mission cropped up during a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday, he said.

At the meeting while giving presentation on the performance of states on the implementation of the National Rural Health Mission, some issues came up which concerned the health care needs of urban people especially slum dwellers, he said and added that following this, it was decided to launch the Urban Health Mission to deal with them effectively.

Dr Ramadoss said that the NRHM, the flagship programme of the UPA government, had done well during the past two years in providing basic health care service to people living in rural areas. A number steps have been taken to augument the health care delivery system in villages.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has decided to convene a special meeting of the National Development Council to discuss issues relating to health care, disease control and public health.

He has also urged state Governments to pay adequate attention to health care issues and ensure efficient functioning of public health services.

UNI