Ministry Hosts Collaborative Meeting on Health Promotion with Major Professional Bodies

Dr. Goel emphasized the importance of directing healthcare resources towards disease prevention rather than solely focusing on diagnostics and treatment.

On July 30, 2024, Prof. (Dr.) Atul Goel, Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, chaired a significant hybrid meeting with representatives from over 27 prominent health professional bodies across India. The meeting aimed to advance the Ministry's initiatives on health promotion, focusing on promoting healthy diets, physical activity, and addressing risk factors for non-communicable diseases, such as tobacco and alcohol use.

A key topic of discussion was the proposed "Healthy Medical/Dental College Campus" initiative, which seeks to cultivate a culture of health and well-being in medical and dental institutions nationwide. Dr. Goel emphasized the importance of directing healthcare resources towards disease prevention rather than solely focusing on diagnostics and treatment.

Participants engaged in detailed discussions on strategies to enhance health, prevent diseases, and eliminate tobacco and alcohol use. The meeting also addressed strengthening the enforcement of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act 2019. The attendees unanimously agreed to adopt a Declaration of Health Promotion and implement measures to support this initiative.

The health professional bodies praised the Ministry’s efforts and recognized the necessity of a unified approach to health promotion. They committed to collaborating with the Union Health Ministry to advance health promotion goals through public awareness campaigns, educational programs, and policy advocacy aimed at reducing tobacco and alcohol use and mitigating other risk factors.

Dr. L. Swasticharan, Additional DDG & Director EMR, and senior officials from the Union Health Ministry were also present at the meeting. The participating health bodies included the National Medical Commission (NMC), World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Medical Association (IMA), Association of Physicians of India (API), Cardiology Society of India (CSI), Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM), Indian Public Health Association (IPHA), MeDeVision, Trained Nursing Association of India (TNAI), Indian Orthopedic Association (IOA), Indian Society of Oncology (ISO), Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry (IAPHD), Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI), National Medicos Organization (NMO), and others.

The meeting highlighted a shared commitment to enhancing public health through collaborative efforts in education and risk factor reduction. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare continues to pursue its mission of safeguarding public health and improving citizen well-being through proactive and collective measures.