Puducherry, May 14 : Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava addressed the 12th Convocation of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences courses at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), highlighting the transformative impact of Ayushman Bharat and the 1.18 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, an official said on Thursday.

Conferring college degrees on 320 students across Nursing and Allied Health Sciences courses at JIPMER, Srivastava elaborated on the four foundational pillars of Ayushman Bharat, which represent a paradigm shift from a primary focus on reproductive and child health to a broader emphasis on screening, early detection, and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Emphasising quality in healthcare delivery, she spoke about the importance of Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) and the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), an official statement said.

She noted that more than two lakh public health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Community Health Centres, and District Hospitals, are being assessed for infrastructure and service gaps.

She told that about 64,000 public health facilities have already achieved NQAS certification, and encouraged the graduates to actively contribute towards quality improvement in the institutions they join.

She outlined the remaining pillars of Ayushman Bharat, including Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), which provides financial protection and health assurance to beneficiaries; the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which enables creation of ABHA accounts for seamless digital health records and data-driven healthcare; and the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), which is strengthening health infrastructure through initiatives such as critical care blocks and expansion of the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) network.

The Union Health Secretary described the convocation as a defining milestone in the lives of the graduating students.

She urged the graduating students to dedicate their professional journey to service, compassion, and nation-building, noting that their contributions would significantly shape the future of the country's healthcare system.

She emphasised that as graduates of the prestigious JIPMER, they carry forward a legacy of commitment, competence, and ethical service, which must be upheld in their professional lives.

Srivastava said that nursing and allied healthcare professionals form the backbone of India's healthcare system, playing a crucial role in both public health and clinical care delivery.

She highlighted key legislative reforms, including the enactment of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, aimed at strengthening education, regulation, and professional standards in these sectors.

Srivastava also pointed to significant capacity-building initiatives, including the establishment of 157 nursing colleges co-located with medical colleges, and the Union government's commitment to nurture one lakh healthcare professionals over the next five years.

/IANS