Srinagar: The World Health Organization (WHO) in India, in collaboration with the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), marked Universal Health Coverage Day 2023 at GMC Srinagar on Tuesday with Dr. Hilde De Graeve, WHO representative calling for collective action to address the challenges posed by the evolving global health scenario.
While acknowledging the critical state of healthcare sector she said: "We have to meet our degraded health sector together."
Commenting on the primary health sector, Dr. Hilde said that there are many systematic possibilities to address loopholes at the primary level through advanced medical mechanisms.
She informed attendees about the WHO's initiative, "Health for All," which focuses on improving health systems globally, including in India.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Hilde De Graeve left the audience with a thought-provoking quote: "The better health is the world’s best beneficial reality."
The Chief Guest for the event, Bhupinder Kumar, Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education, J & K, attended the occasion virtually, commending the strides made by Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness centres.
Mr. Kumar said that the mental health services through telemedicine have been expanded by the administration, underscored the growth in access to drugs and diagnostics and commended the WHO's "Health for All" program.
The event, inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) Masood Tanvir, Principal and Dean of Government Medical College, Srinagar, was attended by Director AYUSH Dr. Mohan Singh, State Nodal Officer NHM Dr. Shafi Koka, and Assistant Director Family Welfare and Immunization Dr. Masarat Jabeen.
The symposium on Universal Health Coverage, with the theme 'Health for All: Time for Action,' featured experts in Community Medicine from various colleges in the Kashmir valley.
It concluded with an inter-institution quiz between postgraduate students of the Departments of Community Medicine at GMC Srinagar and SKIMS, Soura, as well as a video competition among postgraduate students.