In August 2025, Union Minister Jagat Prakash (J.P.) Nadda, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched various key public health welfare initiatives at a program organised in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Cultural & Information Centre (NSCBCI) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (MP).
Exam Hints:
- What? Inauguration of key public welfare initiatives in MP
- Inaugurated by: Jointly by Union Minister Jagat Parkash (J.P.) Nadda, MoHFW
- Where? Jabalpur, MP
- Key Initiatives: Inauguration of 2 Medical Colleges(Sheopur and Singrauli); launch of Ayushman Sakhi-Smat Chatbot and ‘Asha Samvadd’ platform, among others
- Key Agreements: To set up new GMCs in Betul, Panna, Dhar, and Katni, under PPP Model
About Launch of Key Initiatives:
Overview: These initiatives are centrally sponsored health programmes, designed to strengthen public health and community outreach in Madhya Pradesh.
Dignitaries Present: Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister (CM) of MP, and Rajendra Shukla, Deputy CM, Public Health and Medical Education Department, MP, were present at the event.
Key Initiatives :
Inauguration of Medical Colleges: Union Minister JP Nadda and MP CM Dr. Mohan Yadav virtually inaugurated the newly built Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Sheopur and Singrauli districts of MP.
- These newly inaugurated GMCs were approved under Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for ‘Establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with district/referral hospitals’ in academic year 2019-20 with cost of Rs 325 crore each.
- The Government of India (GoI) has released Rs 113.4 crore for each college in the state, out of its share of Rs 195 crore.
Handed over LoP : Union Minister JP Nadda also handed over the Letter of Permission (LoP) for admission of 100 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) seats each at the 2 new GMCs.
Agreements: During the event, key agreements were signed with private investors to set up new GMCs in 4 districts of MP: Betul, Panna, Dhar, and Katni, under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model.
Vay Vandana Cards (VVCs): He also launched the distribution of Ayushman Bharat: Vay Vandana Card (AB-VVC) for 8 lakh senior citizens. He handed over PVC cards to 5 elderly beneficiaries during the event.
Digital Health Initiatives:
- Ayushman Sakhi: He launched the ‘Ayushman Sakhi’ Smart Chatbot, an interactive platform enables the citizens to easily access the information and support under health schemes.
- Asha Samvaad: Also, a new digital platform named ‘Asha Samvaad’ was launched at the event. Through this digital platform, the health department will directly interact with all Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, for 20 minutes on every Thursday.
Progress under Swasthya Yakrit Mission: Under the MP’s Swasthya Yakrit Mission (Healthy Liver Mission), liver screening of 1 crore people has been completed.
Maternal and Child Health: He also released maternal nutrition awareness materials and introduced the revised Mother Child Protection (MCP) Card.
- The new MCP card along with Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANWs) and Community Health Officers (CHOs, will now enable the doctors to record management and sonography details as well as services offered under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA).
- In addition to that, the card now offers a wide range of maternal health services such as sonography tests, provision of Iron Sucrose and Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) injections for anemia management, among others.
About Madhya Pradesh (MP):
Chief Minister (CM)- Dr. Mohan Yadav
Governor- Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
Capital- Bhopal
National Parks (NPs)- Kanha NP, Bandhavgarh NP
