Union Minister Amit Shah asserted on Monday that India’s health infrastructure has received a significant boost under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, a stark contrast to what he described as neglect by previous Congress governments. He made these remarks while laying the foundation stone for “Swasti Niwas,” a residential facility for cancer patients and their caregivers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Nagpur. Shah also commended the private sector for its contributions to bolstering healthcare in India.
Critiquing the Congress, Shah stated that the health sector’s budget under Prime Minister Modi is ₹1.35 lakh crore, a substantial increase from the ₹37,000 crore allocated during the Manmohan Singh government. Speaking at the NCI, a leading cancer treatment facility, he highlighted that India has the highest percentage of oral cancer patients globally and that a person dies of cervical cancer every eight minutes in the country. He acknowledged that while cancer treatment was largely inaccessible a few years ago, the past 15 years have seen the establishment of several effective institutes dedicated to combating the disease. Shah lauded the NCI for its exemplary service to economically disadvantaged patients from Maharashtra and neighboring states such as Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh.
Shah emphasized that the Modi government has transformed the nation’s health landscape, noting that around a decade ago, prohibitive costs deterred the poor from seeking treatment. He highlighted that under the Modi government, 60 crore impoverished individuals receive free treatment up to ₹5 lakh. Furthermore, 23 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been approved, compared to the seven established since Independence. With the assistance of state governments, this free treatment limit extends to ₹25 lakh, benefiting 60% of the country’s population. He also pointed out the significant increase in government medical colleges from 387 in 2014 to 780 currently, and the rise in MBBS seats from 51,000 in 2014 to 1.18 lakh. PG seats have also grown from 31,000 to 74,000 during the same period.
Shah also praised Prime Minister Modi for initiatives like International Yoga Day, Fit India, and Khelo India, as well as major welfare programs focused on clean drinking water, household toilet facilities, and cylinder distribution for smoke-free kitchens. He assured Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of full Central government support to establish a state-of-the-art research facility on the NCI premises, expressing confidence that the NCI will become the country’s premier cancer treatment facility in the coming years. He commended Fadnavis for his foundational efforts in establishing the cancer institute, remarking that “cancer treatment is prolonged, and the pain of patients and their families is huge. Only those who experience the pain personally have the spirit of service to the society and ease the suffering of people at large.”
Shah concluded by stating that good intentions consistently benefit society, and that both government efforts and private institutional contributions are vital. He noted Fadnavis’s conceptualization of the institute in 2012, highlighting his subsequent two terms as chief minister.
Speaking at the event, Fadnavis explained that the new ‘Swasti Niwas’ is designed to provide a comfortable and supportive environment for cancer patients and their families, adding that NCI will be developed into a premier research facility. A press release detailed that the proposed ‘Swasti Niwas’ design, with a total built-up area of 1.7 lakh square feet, includes a convenience center complex and a food court. The release also stated that multinational firm Pernod Ricard India has supported the ‘Swasti Niwas’ project as part of its CSR initiative, with JJ Consultants handling the design.
