J P Nadda launches new initiatives on Universal Health Coverage Day

On December 12, 2017, on the occasion of ‘Universal Health Coverage Day’, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda launched following initiatives to advance the agenda of Universal Health Coverage in India.

Laqshya – Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative:

This initiative has been launched to improve the quality of care that is being provided to the pregnant mother in the Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatres.

• Under this initiative, quality certification of labour rooms will be conducted and those facilities achieving the specified targets will be appropriately incentivised.
• It will be implemented in Government Medical Colleges (MCs), District Hospitals (DHs), high delivery load Sub- District Hospitals (SDHs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs).
• Laqshya will eventually help in preventing the undesirable adverse outcomes during childbirth such as maternal and new-born mortality, morbidity and stillbirths.

Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units (HDUs) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs):

Critical care for pregnancy cases involving complications is an important aspect related to maternal mortality.

• In 2016, Central Government had released Guidelines for setting up of Obstetric High Dependency Units (HDUs) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) for handling complicated cases.
• Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units (HDUs) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) have been released to complement these national guidelines.

Safe Delivery Application

Safe Delivery is a mobile application for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral areas.

• Safe Delivery application has clinical Instruction films on important obstetric procedures. By viewing these films, health workers can translate their learnt skills into practice.
• This app will prove to be useful for training purpose and demonstration.
• It has been successfully tested in few districts.

About ‘Universal Health Coverage Day’:

Universal Health Coverage means affordable, quality health care to every person, everywhere.

• In December 2012, the United Nations passed a landmark resolution endorsing universal health coverage.
• Every year, 12^th December is celebrated as ‘Universal Health Coverage Day’ to commemorate the anniversary of this landmark resolution.