The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Mr. J.P. Nadda releasing the ‘National Health Profile-2015’, published by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), in New Delhi on September 22, 2015. The secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. B.P. Sharma and the DGHS, Dr. (Prof.) Jagdish Prasad are also seen.
Data Helps To Decide Goals And Chart Our Policies
New Delhi (PIB-GR-TYP-BIN): Mr. J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare released the National Health Profile (NHP)-2015 prepared by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) on September 22. The E-book (digital version) of the annual document, which has been prepared for the first time, was also released. The National Health Profile covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health. CBHI has been publishing National Health Profile every year since 2005. This is the 11th edition.
Speaking at the function, the Health Minister saidd that the data is an important source of navigation. It helps in understanding the goals, our strengths and weaknesses and it is also an important means to strategize. Good compiled data enables the policymakers to make evidence-based policies and aids effective implementation of various schemes, he added.
The Health Minister said that the e-book of NHP-2015 is a step towards realizing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Digital India. He said, digital documents give us an opportunity for wider dissemination of information. He added that we now need to work towards converting documented data into “real-time” data. While digital data helps us to be more efficient, real time data helps to monitor our schemes and efforts in real time.
Mr. J P Nadda congratulated and appreciated the CBHI team for their recent initiatives regarding uses of geo-mapping of four different districts of different parts of the country such as north-eastern region, south region, desert area and Jharkhand. He hoped that this exercise will extend to other parts of the country also. He also congratulated the team for increasing their ambit as data from ESIC and Railways are incorporated for the first time in the National Health Profile.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. B P Sharma, Secretary (Health) stated that data is not only important for understanding the health indicators of the country, but it also provides an opportunity to monitor the situation. He said that the National Health Profile – 2015 indicates that significant progress has been made in the country for various health outcomes, which is an encouraging signal.
Also present at the release function were DGHS, Dr. Jagdish Prasad, Special DGHS, Dr. B D Athani, Director (CBHI), Dr. Madhu Raikwar, and senior officers of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and CBHI.
(Source: PIB/GR/TYP/BIN/USPA/WN/IAIJ)