DEPLOYING WEALTH TO ENSURE HEALTH

Improvement in the health and nutritional status of the population has been one of the major thrust areas of the social development programmes in the state. Over the years, Gujarat has developed good health infrastructure and human resources. The State has initiated a wide variety of Public-Private Collaborations, involving NGOs/Private Sector practitioners. No wonder, Gujarat is now emerging as a global medical tourism destination. The WHO has appreciated Gujarat's school health program, under which 10 million primary school children are medically examined every year. The state has recently initiated a novel scheme involving private gynaecologists in providing services related to safe delivery of pregnant women primarily from socio-economically weaker sections. The scheme called the Chiranjeevi Yojana, was launched in December 2005. The beneficiaries under the scheme are the mothers from poor families. Recently, this scheme bagged an international recognition in the form of Asian Innovation Award at Singapore from Wall Street Journal and the Financial Express. Under "Matru Vandana" private Gynaecologists provide free services to antenatal mothers on 9th day of each month. Almost 1000 gynaecologists are working as Matru Vandana Doctors.