Kumar Bahukhandi
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai meets Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda at the latter’s residence in New Delhi on Friday, August 21, 2026. The two leaders discussed strengthening healthcare services in Chhattisgarh, with particular focus on improving access in Bastar, Surguja and other remote and tribal regions-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CMO
Sai tells Union Health Minister that quality treatment must reach people closer to their homes; Centre assures support for strengthening health and medical services in the state
Key Highlights
- “Every citizen should have access to quality and affordable healthcare close to home,” says Sai
- Bastar, Surguja and other remote tribal regions remain a key focus of the state’s healthcare expansion
- CM discusses progress of Centre-supported health programmes with JP Nadda
- Sai stresses strengthening services from primary healthcare to advanced medical treatment
- “Our priority is to make modern healthcare more accessible in geographically difficult areas”
- Nadda assures necessary Central support for strengthening Chhattisgarh’s health infrastructure
New Delhi: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday, August 21, 2026, met Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda at his residence in New Delhi and placed particular emphasis on expanding quality healthcare to the state’s remote, forested and tribal regions.
During the meeting, Sai enquired about Nadda’s health and well-being and wished him good health. Their discussions subsequently focused on strengthening Chhattisgarh’s health and medical services and reviewing the progress of healthcare programmes being implemented with Central support.
Sai told the Union Health Minister that the state’s approach was centred on ensuring that people did not have to travel unnecessarily long distances for essential medical care.
“Our special focus is to ensure that every citizen of the state has access to quality and affordable healthcare close to home,” Sai said.
He said the government was continuously strengthening the health system, from primary healthcare services at the local level to facilities capable of providing advanced medical treatment.
Bastar, Surguja at the Centre of Healthcare Expansion
Sai particularly highlighted the challenges faced in Bastar, Surguja and other remote, forested and tribal areas, where geography and distance have historically complicated access to medical facilities.
The Chief Minister said improving healthcare in these regions required not only infrastructure but also greater availability of medical services and easier access to modern treatment.
“Geographical conditions have made the availability of healthcare an important challenge in remote areas. We are giving priority to expanding health infrastructure and making modern treatment more accessible to people in these regions,” Sai said.
He briefed Nadda on the progress of various Central health schemes and programmes being implemented in Chhattisgarh and stressed that coordination between the Centre and the state was helping widen the reach of healthcare services.
Sai said efforts were under way to strengthen maternal and child healthcare, institutional deliveries, treatment of serious illnesses, health insurance and emergency medical services.
Referring to the Centre’s healthcare initiatives, the Chief Minister said programmes such as Ayushman Bharat had helped needy families gain access to quality treatment.
“The coordinated efforts of the Centre and the state are continuously expanding the reach of healthcare in Chhattisgarh. Our commitment is to ensure that better health services reach the last person,” Sai said.
The discussion assumes particular significance for Chhattisgarh because extending specialist and modern healthcare beyond major urban centres remains central to improving medical access in its geographically dispersed tribal regions.
Nadda took stock of the measures being undertaken by the Chhattisgarh government and assured the Chief Minister of necessary support from the Centre for strengthening health and medical facilities in the state.
Sai thanked the Union Health Minister for the Centre’s continued cooperation, saying such support would help accelerate the expansion of healthcare and, in particular, improve access to modern medical services for people living in remote and tribal areas.
“With the Centre’s continued cooperation, we will be able to accelerate the expansion of healthcare facilities and move faster towards providing better and modern medical services to citizens in remote and tribal regions,” Sai said.
