Union MoS Shri Jitendra Singh Virtually Addresses the Annual Convocation of the 42nd Batch of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram

📌 Summary:

• Union MoS (I/C) Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Shri Jitendra Singh virtually addressed the 42nd Annual Convocation of SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram; Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava attended as Chief Guest
• SCTIMST is an Institution of National Importance — a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India
• Institute is in Golden Jubilee phase; approval of nearly 800 permanent faculty positions will nearly double working capacity
• New PMSSY (9-floor) block and 4-floor services block — strengthens SCTIMST into a major centre for neurosurgery and cardiac sciences
• Treated 17,000+ patients under Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Yojana since 2020
• PM Modi laid foundation for the Malini Vasundhara Centre — described as major advancement in precision-based, non-invasive treatment for neurological and oncological conditions
• SCTIMST's unique focus: world-class, cost-effective indigenous medical devices; 7 technologies to be transferred to industry this year
• Eight-institution MoU initiative — collaborative cluster for synergistic research ecosystem
• ISRO-SCTIMST collaboration on space medicine flagged as emerging frontier
• Health Secretary Srivastava: Ayushman Bharat ensures "continuum of care"; National Health Policy 2017 covers preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, palliative
• Primary healthcare network strengthening — early screening for NCDs, mental health, geriatric care, palliative care
• Pillars of Ayushman Bharat: Ayushman Arogya Mandirs + PM-JAY (covers 600 million+ citizens) → referral to CHC, sub-district, district hospitals, medical colleges, empanelled hospitals
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission — ABHA accounts enable longitudinal digital health records with consent-based sharing
• PM-ABHIM addresses health infrastructure gaps, builds pandemic-resilient systems
• PMSSY: 75 super-specialty blocks built; supports 22 new AIIMS institutions across India
• AI in healthcare — government strategy launched with IIT Kanpur; "Bhashini" open data platform by NHA for benchmarking AI tools
• CDSCO regulatory reforms: simplification for low-risk drugs, bioavailability/bioequivalence procedures, parallel reforms in medical devices sector
• 130 graduands awarded degrees: 29 DM, 7 MCh, 15 post-doctoral fellowships, 40 MPH, 4 post-doctoral certificates, 11 PhDs, 22 diploma/PG-diploma, 2 ACP in Neurological Sciences
• Dr. Krishna M. Ella (Bharat Biotech co-founder) attended as Guest of Honour

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — Health: Ayushman Bharat continuum (PM-JAY, AB-HWC, ABDM, PM-ABHIM, PMSSY), CDSCO reforms, NCD shift, digital health, AIIMS expansion. GS3 — S&T: indigenous medical devices, technology transfer, ISRO-medical collaboration, AI in healthcare.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• SCTIMST = Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; INI under DST
• PM-JAY = Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana; covers 600 million+ citizens
• ABHA = Ayushman Bharat Health Account — longitudinal digital health record
• PM-ABHIM = Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
• PMSSY = Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana — 75 super-specialty blocks; supports 22 new AIIMS
• National Health Policy: 2017
• NHA = National Health Authority — manages Bhashini platform for AI-healthcare benchmarking
• CDSCO = Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
• 42nd convocation: 130 graduands; SCTIMST in Golden Jubilee year

🔑 Key Term: Continuum of Care — A healthcare delivery model that links preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services across the primary–secondary–tertiary referral chain, with the patient remaining at the centre throughout — operationalised in India via Ayushman Bharat.