**Executive Summary**
On July 12, 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla inaugurated Ashoka Health City in Nashik, Maharashtra, emphasizing that quality healthcare must reach the most remote sections of society. The address focused on the necessity of public-private partnerships, the expansion of medical infrastructure through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, and the urgent need for medical research to address emerging diseases. Key action items include the establishment of research centers in hospitals and universities and the encouragement of medical students to serve in rural areas.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Infrastructure Expansion and Healthcare Access**
* The inauguration of Ashoka Health City provides super-specialty services, cancer care, and a dedicated Mother and Child Hospital to the North Maharashtra region.
* The Government of India is actively strengthening the healthcare system by increasing seats in medical colleges and expanding infrastructure through the Ayushman Bharat initiative.
* A primary goal is to ensure affordable, sustainable, and quality treatment is available to every citizen, particularly those at the "last mile."
* **Research, Innovation, and Emerging Diseases**
* Medical institutions and professionals are urged to prepare for challenges posed by both existing and emerging diseases.
* There is a critical need for investment in research, science, and technology to reduce dependency on other nations, building on the success of India's vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Universities and colleges are encouraged to establish dedicated research and innovation centers to bolster scientific capabilities.
* **Preventative Health and Social Responsibility**
* The adoption of Yoga and environmentally sustainable lifestyles is highlighted as essential for maintaining a disease-free life.
* Private healthcare providers are urged to operate with a spirit of social responsibility and public service to ensure equitable access to benefits.
* Efforts must be intensified to reduce infant mortality through high-quality healthcare facilities dedicated to mothers and children.
* **Medical Education and Rural Service**
* Medical education should be fundamentally linked with the spirit of public service.
* Students receiving medical training are encouraged to serve in villages and rural areas to bridge the gap in healthcare access for remote populations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Private Healthcare Institutions (e.g., Ashoka Health City)**
**Impact**
These institutions are recognized as vital partners in the national healthcare framework, expected to provide super-specialty care and drive regional medical standards.
**Action Required**
They must establish research and innovation facilities alongside clinical services and expand their outreach with a focus on social responsibility.
**Stakeholder: Medical Students and Professionals**
**Impact**
The focus shifts toward a service-oriented career path with an emphasis on addressing the needs of rural and underserved populations.
**Action Required**
Students should prepare to serve in rural areas, and professionals must continuously upgrade their skills to manage emerging diseases and contribute to medical research.
**Stakeholder: Government and Educational Bodies**
**Impact**
There is a continued mandate to expand medical infrastructure and integrate scientific research into the academic curriculum.
**Action Required**
They must facilitate the establishment of research centers in universities and continue to promote national health initiatives and healthy lifestyles like Yoga.
**Stakeholder: General Public (specifically in North Maharashtra)**
**Impact**
Residents gain access to localized, high-quality super-specialty care, reducing the need to travel long distances for serious illnesses.
**Action Required**
Citizens are encouraged to adopt preventative health measures, including Yoga and sustainable living, to ensure long-term well-being.
Key Entities Referenced
Shri Om Birla: Speaker of the Lok Sabha who inaugurated Ashoka Health City and emphasized the need for public-private collaboration in healthcare and research.
Ashoka Health City, Nashik: A newly inaugurated healthcare complex in Maharashtra providing multi-specialty services, cancer care, and research facilities for the North Maharashtra region.
Ayushman Bharat: A flagship national health initiative cited as a key government measure to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and expand access to medical services.
Mother and Child Hospital: A specialized facility inaugurated within Ashoka Health City dedicated to maternal and pediatric healthcare and reducing infant mortality.
Lok Sabha Secretariat
QUALITY HEALTHCARE MUST REACH THE
LAST PERSON IN SOCIETY: LOK SABHA
SPEAKER
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR MUST WORK
TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN HEALTHCARE, RESEARCH
AND INNOVATION: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS MUST PREPARE FOR THE
CHALLENGES POSED BY EXISTING AND EMERGING
DISEASES: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
LOK SABHA SPEAKER INAUGURATES ASHOKA HEALTH
CITY IN NASHIK
प्रव तथ: 12 JUL 2026 7:27PM by PIB Delhi
Observing that quality healthcare must reach the last person in society, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla
today said that the Government and private institutions must work together to achieve this objective. He
made these remarks while inaugurating Ashoka Health City in Nashik, Maharashtra.
Referring to Nashik as a land of spiritual consciousness, social awareness and extraordinary valour, Shri
Birla observed that the sacred Trimbakeshwar Mahadev Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, provides
spiritual energy, gives people the courage to endure hardship and guides society towards public welfare.
Recalling the rich spiritual legacy of the region, he noted that the teachings of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj
and Sant Tukaram Maharaj continue to inspire society. He further observed that the courage and valour of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj continue to provide inspiration and direction to the youth of the country.
On the need to expand healthcare services in India, Shri Birla noted that the Government of India has been
working to promote the health and well-being of all. He observed that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
has consistently encouraged a healthy lifestyle and that Yoga has today become an integral part of the
daily lives of people across the world. He stressed the need to adopt Yoga and an environmentally
sustainable lifestyle to ensure a healthy and disease-free life.
Shri Birla observed that the Government of India has taken several important steps to strengthen the
country’s healthcare system. Medical infrastructure has been expanded, seats in medical colleges have
been increased and major initiatives, including Ayushman Bharat, have been launched. He added that the
participation of the private sector is also yielding meaningful results, with new medical colleges being
established, medical infrastructure being strengthened and greater emphasis being placed on research
alongside the treatment of serious diseases.Emphasizing the importance of medical research, Shri Birla called upon Ashoka Health City to establish
research and innovation facilities alongside its Mother and Child Hospital, cancer care and super-
speciality services. He stressed that medical professionals and institutions must prepare themselves to
address the challenges posed by existing as well as emerging diseases. India, he said, must further
strengthen its capabilities in medical research and innovation.
Referring to India’s growing capabilities in science and healthcare, he recalled that there was a time when
India depended on developed countries in several areas of healthcare. However, during the COVID-19
pandemic, Indian scientists made a significant contribution to the development of vaccines, which served
humanity during an unprecedented global crisis. He stressed that the Government and the private sector
must work together to promote research, science and technology and develop effective responses to
emerging diseases.
Shri Birla further emphasized the need to establish research and innovation centres in universities and
colleges. Noting that new diseases can emerge unexpectedly and pose serious challenges, he observed that
strengthening medical infrastructure must go hand in hand with investment in research, innovation and
scientific capabilities.
Expressing satisfaction over the healthcare facilities being provided by the institution, Shri Birla observed
that Ashoka Health City is serving not only Nashik but also the wider North Maharashtra region. Referring
to the newly inaugurated Mother and Child Hospital, he emphasized the need for high-quality healthcare
facilities dedicated to the well-being of mothers and children. He called for intensified efforts to reduce
infant mortality in the country. He observed that better hospitals and quality healthcare facilities are
essential for achieving this objective. He urged private institutions to expand healthcare services with a
spirit of social responsibility and public service so that their benefits reach all sections of society.
Highlighting the complementary roles of the Government and the private sector, Shri Birla reiterated that
the need of the hour is to ensure that affordable and quality healthcare reaches the last person in society.
He expressed confidence that Ashoka Health City would emerge as an important centre for the treatment
of serious diseases and would provide affordable, quality and sustainable healthcare while also promoting
medical research.
Concluding his address, Shri Birla emphasized that medical education must be linked with the spirit of
public service. He observed that students receiving medical education should be encouraged to serve in
villages and rural areas so that quality healthcare reaches people living in the remotest parts of the country.
He stressed that every citizen, including those at the last mile, must have access to assured treatment in the
event of serious illness.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection, Government of Maharashtra Shri Chhagan
Bhujbal; Minister of Energy, Government of Rajasthan, Shri Hiralal Nagar; Members of Parliament and
other dignitaries were present on the occasion.महाराष्ट्र के नासक म अशोका हल्थ सटी का उाटन कया। यह ास्थ्य परसर उत्तर महाराष्ट्र के
नागरक को आधुनक, सुलभ और गुणवत्तापूण चका सेवाएँ उपलब्ध करान े क दशा म एक
महत्वपूण पहल ह। इसके प्रथम चरण म सुपर मीेशलटी हॉटल, क सर हॉटल, मदर एंड… pi
c.twitter.com/wNHe8s2ESE
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) July 12, 2026
***
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