Lok Sabha Question No. 345 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-10
Subject: Healthcare Workers/Professionals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, DHARMENDRA YADAV

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 345 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH AUGUST ,2018 HEALTHCARE WORKERS/P ROFESSIONALS

## *345. DR. PRITAM GOP INATH MUNDE: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADA V:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  potential  for  skilled  healt workers and professionals in the healthcare sector and if so, the details the
- (b) whether the Government has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to scale up the short - term healthcare courses through its available robust platform;
- (c) if so, the details and the objectives th ereof along with the names of courses included in the said MoU;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  will  provide  any  financial  assistance  to  the University and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the 8th BRICS Health Ministers' meeting related to healthcare sector was  held  in  Durban,  South  Africa  recently  and  if  so,  the  details  includi objectives thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a)to( e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 345* FOR 10 TH AUGUST , 20 18

- (a)As per National Health Profile 2018 ,the present workforce for skilled health workers  and  professionals  is  approximately  66.5  Lakhs  which  includes  Nurs -28.78  Lakhs,  Pharmacists - 9.07  Lakhs  and  Allied  Health  Professionals - 8  Lakhs (estimated).
- (b)  to  (d):  Yes. Memorandums  of  Understanding  ( MoUs)  with  Indira  Gandhi National Open   University (IGNOU) have been signed as per details given belo
1. Under the National Health Mission, Ministry of Health & Family Welfar has signed MoUs with IGNOU for design, development and implementation of a certificate programme in Community Health for Nurses and Ayurveda Practitioners on 16 th March 2016 and 3 rd August 2016 respectively to design and  develop  Certificate  in  Community  Health  for  Regist ered  Nurses  & Registered  Midwives  and  Registered  Ayurveda  Practitioners.  As  per  t MoUs,  the  estimated  cost  of  Rs.  1.4374  Crore  is  to  be  borne  by  t Ministry.
2. Another  MoU  has  been  signed  with  IGNOU  On  25.06.2018  to  scale  up short term courses for impro ving health care delivery. Names of the courses included in the MoU are General Duty Assistant, Geriatric Care Assist Phlebotomist, Home Health Aide, Diabetes Educator, Dietetic Aide, EMT -Basic,  Dispensing  Optician/VT,  Medical  Equipment  Tech  and  Sanita ry Health  Inspector. As  per  MoU,  provisions  of  total  grants  to  IGNOU  of Rs. 15.6 Crores over five (5) years has been made.

(e)Yes. The 8th BRICS Health Ministers Meeting was held on 20th July 2018 a Durban,  South  Africa.  After  the  meet ing,  a  Joint  Communique  on  the  theme: 'Nourishing the path to universal health coverage through innovation  and knowledge sharing' was adopted by the Health Ministers. The objective of the 8th BRICS Health Ministers Meeting was to strengthen intra - BRICS coordination and cooperation to promote public health in accordance with 'BRICS Framework for Collaboration on Strategic Projects in Health'.

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