Episode 78 - From COVID vaccination program to making India the world's pharmacy with Mansukh Mandaviya

Mansukh Mandaviya is a minister in PM Modi’s cabinet and is known for his proactiveness and being a problem solver. Mandaviya like many other BJP politicians is known for his RSS background and started his political journey as a karyakarta of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Born in a small village named Hanol in Palitana taluk of Bhavnagar district in Gujarat Mandaviya's political career took a jump when the then chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi decided to field him in Gujarat assembly polls of 2002 from Palitana which he won and became youngest member of the state assembly, a position he held till 2012 when he was elected to the upper house of parliament from Gujarat. Mandaviya's political rise saw another jump when he was made union health minister in 2021 when the country and the world was battling COVID pandemic but his management skills and attitude of getting things done led to successful implementation of world's largest vaccination program which has earned him laurels from the country as well as from the world. Mandaviya is also credited for sucessful roll out of Jan Aushadi Kendras which aims at providing generic medicines at affordable prices to poor. He has been honoured by UNICEF for his contribution towards women health care initiatives by distributing 10 crore sanitary pads through Jan Aushadi Kendras.

In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Mandaviya talks about his mission on providing affordable quality healthcare to 1.4 billion people of this country. He also talks about the story of COVID vaccine research and how it was implemented amid criticism from different quarters. He also talks about challenges from Big Pharma and his passion for cycling and health routine. On the political front, he slams Rahul Gandhi for showing indifference over COVID protocols and opposition parties campaign for doing politics during COVID.