Government Expands Medical Infrastructure and Services
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s healthcare sector has seen significant growth since 2017, with the state government committed to providing quality medical care, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said on Friday.
Speaking at the Healthcare Conclave 2025, organized by The Economic Times in collaboration with the UP government and the National Health Mission (NHM), Pathak highlighted the state’s healthcare transformation.
“Healthcare is connected to every citizen. It is our duty to provide the best treatment and explore better options,” he stated.
Expansion of Medical Colleges and Healthcare Facilities
Pathak noted a rise in government medical colleges from 17 in 2017 to 44 currently, alongside 36 private medical colleges. MBBS seats have tripled, and postgraduate seats have more than doubled. Each medical college is now paired with nursing and paramedical institutions to strengthen medical education.
To ensure transparency, the government now mandates inspections by Quality Control of India (QCI), where teams use body cameras to prevent malpractice.
Improved Healthcare Services and Infrastructure
The Deputy CM highlighted key improvements:
- Free essential medicines at district hospitals
- Installation of 100 new CT machines
- ASHA workers ensuring timely healthcare services
- 25,500 health centres offering 14 free tests
- Better treatment for vector-borne diseases
Disease Surveillance and Ayushman Bharat Benefits
Principal Secretary Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma emphasized UP’s efforts in disease prevention, stating that special sanitation drives have helped control infectious diseases. The Disease Surveillance Code now tracks 12 communicable diseases, with six vaccine-preventable diseases recently added.
Under Ayushman Bharat, 5.8 crore people have received health cards, with 68 lakh beneficiaries availing free treatment. Teleconsultation services have provided 3.4 crore virtual consultations, and psychological counseling is available via the 14416 helpline.
The state is also developing 30 critical care blocks, has appointed over 4,000 doctors, and operates 2,270 advanced life support ambulances. A real-time health monitoring system ensures transparency in healthcare services.
Concerns Over AI and Patient Data Privacy
During discussions on AI in healthcare, Agriculture Production Commissioner Monika S Garg raised concerns over patient data privacy. She cautioned that big tech companies rely on patient data, and many people unknowingly share sensitive medical details through free health apps. Without strict regulations, this data could be misused.
Garg urged doctors to be cautious while using AI tools and emphasized that ensuring patient confidentiality must be a priority. The healthcare system must balance AI innovations with data protection to maintain public trust.
Collaboration for Authentic Healthcare Solutions
Ranjan Kumar, Principal Secretary, AYUSH and Food Safety & Drug Administration, UP, highlighted the need for authentic, knowledge-based partnerships between private firms and the government.
He suggested that private sector associations prepare a verified list of companies specializing in emerging technologies like virtual reality and home-based simulations. This would enable the government to collaborate with trusted partners, especially in AYUSH medicine, where over 3,000 herbs still lack proper authentication.
