Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla inaugurated Ashoka Health City in Nashik, Maharashtra on July 12, 2026, emphasizing that quality healthcare must reach the last person in society. The healthcare facility includes a Mother and Child Hospital, cancer care services, and super-specialty services, serving not only Nashik but also the wider North Maharashtra region.
Birla stressed the complementary roles of government and private sector in strengthening India's healthcare system, noting that government initiatives including Ayushman Bharat, expansion of medical infrastructure, and increased seats in medical colleges have been implemented. He highlighted that private sector participation is yielding meaningful results through establishment of new medical colleges, strengthened medical infrastructure, and greater emphasis on research alongside treatment of serious diseases.
The Speaker called upon Ashoka Health City to establish research and innovation facilities alongside its clinical services, emphasizing that medical institutions must prepare for challenges posed by existing and emerging diseases. He noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian scientists made significant contributions to vaccine development, demonstrating the country's growing capabilities in healthcare research.
Birla emphasized the need to reduce infant mortality through better hospitals and quality healthcare facilities, urging private institutions to expand services with a spirit of social responsibility. He also stressed that medical education must be linked with public service, encouraging medical students to serve in villages and rural areas to ensure healthcare reaches the remotest parts of the country.
The event was attended by Maharashtra Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, Rajasthan Energy Minister Shri Hiralal Nagar, Members of Parliament, and other dignitaries. The inauguration represents a significant initiative in providing modern, accessible, and quality medical services to citizens of North Maharashtra.