India''s robust health surveillance stalled Coronavirus entry:

India remained protected from novel Coronavirus due to its robust health surveillance

system, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said here on Saturday.

He also hailed qualified health professionals for "resisting" the Ebola, Nipah virus and Swineflu in the past.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Academic and Administrative Building of the International

Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) here, the Health Minister said India is now in a position to achieve the World

Health Organisation's (WHO) 'Health for All' goal and to form a healthcare model that can be emulated by other countries.

He said the doctor-to-population ratio will also be as per WHO standards.

"India's robust health surveillance system has been able to stall novel Coronavirus from entering the country.

Similarly, Ebola, Nipah virus, Swineflu were also resisted by qualified health professionals in the country in the past,"

Harsh Vardhan said. Speaking about the achievements in the Health sector,

Harsh Vardhan said the number of medical and post-graduation (PG) seats has been significantly increased.

"The number of AIIMS has gone up from 6 to 22. Ayushman Bharat scheme has been started along with tertiary

healthcare. Health and wellness centres and preventive healthcare centres have also been set up," Harsh Vardhan said.

The minister underlined that not a single woman should die of pregnancy and no child should go without vaccines.

"Besides eradication of TB and Kala-azar, zero deaths due to diarrhea, control and elimination of deaths due to

Malaria are also important goals of the government," he said. Speaking about IIPS, Harsh Vardhan said the name of

the prestigious institute often appears in health surveys, and that researchers and students passing out from the IIPS hardly

remain unemployed. "Rather many of them work for the UN and other reputed organisations," he added.

Harsh Vardhan further said the country can reap the rich dividends from these bright minds and urged them to give

something concrete to the country as per its needs. "Many milestones have been achieved in the health

sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wants to deliver a New India by 2022. However, the last

mile is yet to be reached," he added. He urged researchers and young professionals to come

up with innovative, out-of-box ideas to resolve the unresolved issues in the healthcare sector.

As part of the Centre's efforts to management of Novel Coronavirus (COVID19), 21,805 passengers have been brought

under community surveillance. In addition, 3,97,152 flight passengers and 9,695 travellers at sea ports have been

screened.