Vardhan cycles to work on day one as health minister

New Delhi: It was doctor's day at Nirman Bhawan, the official address of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as Dr Harsh Vardhan, who has been appointed as the new Health Minister in the Modi cabinet, arrived on a cycle to take charge as the Union Health Minister on Monday.

Vardhan, who won the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat in Delhi, ascribed the act to his (reaching office on a cycle) 'green good deed' for the day as he sets one 'greed good deed' every day and advised all to do the same to protect the environment.

After taking charge, he tweeted that he was "grateful" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for trusting him. "Today, I took charge as the Health and Family Minister. I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for trusting me. The health of the people of this country is the top priority of the Modi government. I will put in best of my efforts to fulfil my responsibilities as a minister," he said.

Highlighting his priorities, Vardhan said, "Strengthening the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY), ensuring that people in every nook and cranny of the country are able to avail the benefits of the scheme."

"Since the launch of PM-JAY, around 27 lakh people have availed the benefits under the scheme. However, still many people are not aware of it. Some people who are in dire need of the benefits provided under the insurance scheme is not able to avail it due to eligibility criteria issues," Vardhan said.

Vardhan also emphasised to make health a 'Jan Andolan' through people's involvement. On other priorities, he said, "We have to complete the unfinished target of transforming nearly 1.5 lakh primary health centres and sub-centres as 'health and wellness centres' by 2022." Eradication of Tuberculosis by 2025, completing new AIIMS projects announced by the previous government and reforming the medical education sector will also be key priorities of the newly-appointed minister.