Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday described health as a sector that had not been given “much attention” and asserted that his priority would be to implement the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in “letter and spirit.“Health is one sector that impacts the poorest of the poor and it is our responsibility and an opportunity to reach out to them through better healthcare facilities,” he told reporters after taking charge of the Ministry. Mr. Azad admitted that there were virtually no health care facilities available to the poor in the rural and far-flung areas. The NRHM was one of the important programmes initiated by the United Progressive Alliance. “I will review the implementation with the States every six months.”Making a case for speedy launch of the National Urban Health Mission, he said he would push for its early clearance by the Cabinet and funding for the proposal.
