Lok Sabha Question No. 627 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-18
Subject: Health Sector in India
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: MIDHUN REDDY, C.S. PUTTARAJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 627 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH NOVEMBER, 2016

## HEALTH SECTOR IN IND IA

## 627. SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY: SHRI C.S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  made new  policies  and  significant  public commitment  and financial commitment to the health sector across the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b)whether the Government is aware that India's healthcare infrastructure is inadequate to serve its vast population and if so, the reasons therefor; and

(c) whether lack of awareness about diseases and monitoring is posing great challenge for the Government and if so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government to meet the country's needs in health sector?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

(a): The  Government  of  India  formulated  a nd  placed  in  public  domain  the  draft  of National Health Policy 2015 in the light of the changes that have taken place in the country's health sector scenario since the formulation of the National Health Policy 2002.  The National Health Policy 2015 e nvisages raising public health expenditure progressively to 2.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The focus of the Government is to provide accessible, affordable and accountab healthcare  facilities  to  all  sections  of  the  society  in  the  country.  Gov ernment  of  India accordingly  provides  financial  assistance  for  supplementing  the  efforts  of  States Governments in this direction.

- (b): The draft National Health Policy 2015 has laid emphasis on strengthening of healthc infrastructure.    Health  being  a  State  subject,  the  primary  responsibility  for  develop upgrading          adequate  healthcare  infrastructure  rests  with  the  State/UT  Gov rnments. However,  under  National  Health Mission  (NHM),  Government  of  India  provides  financial support  to  States  under  Project  Implementation  Plan  (PIP)  to  strengthen  the  public  h system including upgradation of existing infrastructure or construction of new infrastructure .

The  Government  has  also  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Swasthya  Suraksha  Yojana (PMSSY ) with  the  objectives  of  correcting  regional  imbalances  in  the  availability affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and augmenting facilities for quality medical education in the country for enhancing availability of human resources in health sector.

(c): The Government is aware of challenges posed by emerging diseases and is monitoring the spread of such diseases.

In order to pro vide affordable health care services to the people of the country a to generate awareness about the diseases, the Government has taken several steps whi inter - alia include:

- Initiatives  under  the  National  Health  Mission  (NHM)  for  providing  free  of  co t health  care  in  the  public  health  facilities  through  a  nationwide  network Community  Health  Centres  (CHCs),  Primary  Health  Centres  (PHCs)  and  Sub Centres  (SCs)  in  both  rural  and  urban  areas.  Various  programs  such  as  Nationa AYUSH Mission, Rashtriya Kis hor Swasthya Karyakram, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram,  National  Deworming  day,  Weekly  Iron  Folic  Acid  supplementation program,  Menstrual  Hygiene  Program,  Mission  Indradhanush,  Kayakalp  Abhiyan, Free Drugs and Diagnostic Initiative, Free care for family welfare services, Janani Shishu  Suraksha  Karyakaram  (JSSK), free  medicines  under  the  various  national health programmes like Anti - Malaria and Anti - TB Programmes seek to strengthen various health components.
- Emergency  Medical  Relief  is  also  provided  to  mitigate  the  impact  of  Influenza H1N1, Avian Flu and other emerging diseases.
- Fund is also provided for setting up Institutional Mechanism for Emergency Medic Services at National/States/Districts level.
- Regular Awareness campaigns for Immunizations, seasonal outbreaks etc., has bee undertaken through Information Education Communication (IEC).