Lok Sabha Question No. 3889 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-24
Subject: Health Sector
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3889 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th MARCH, 2017

## HEALTH SECTOR

3889. SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

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

- (a)  whether  rural  areas  don't  have health infrastructure at par with the urban areas leading to higher child and maternal mortality rates there and if so, the reasons the for;
- (b) whether there is a brand culture in medicines, where a few companies monopolise the market, by bribing the contractors, while the cheaper versions of the same medicine are not promoted;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereon;
- (d)  whether  there  is  a  need  to  give health  sector  an  equal  priority,  as  compared t other infrastructural projects and if so, the action taken by the Union Government inthis regard; and
- (e)  whether  there  is  a  need  to strengthen  regulatory  mechanism  to  oversee quality  of  health service  provision,  in  both public  and  private  sector  and  if  so,  the  steps taken  by  the  Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a): The  health  indicators  of  rural  areas  in  terms  of  Infant  Mortality  Rate  (IMR), Fertility Rate (TFR), under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) and availability o f beds are considerably poor compared to urban areas.  As per the National Health Profile 2016 of Central Bure Health Intelligence, there are 216793 beds in rural hospitals and 537931 beds in urban h in the public sectors.  This indicates that people in rural areas lack adequate access to modern health facilities as compared to urban areas.

Public health being a State subject, the primary responsibility to ensure availab adequate  health  infrastructure  both  in  rural  as  well  as  urban  areas  lies  with  t Governments. One key reason for lack of infrastructure is lack of availability of adequate doctors and specialists in the country and unwillingness on their part to work in rural areas. underfunding in rural health infrastructure is another key reason.

(b) & (c): No such reports have been received by the Government .

(d): Hospitals including Medical Colleges, Para Medical Training institutes and Diagnos Centres are already included under Social and Commercial infrastructure category Harmonized Master list of infrastructure Sub - sectors.

(e): Public  health and  hospitals  being  a  State  subject,  it  is  the  responsibility  of  St establish a regulatory mechanism to oversee quality of health service provisions in the pu private  sector.    However,  the  Government  of  India  has  enacted  the  Clinical  Establi shments (Registration  and  Regulation)  Act,  2010  with  the  objective  of  registration  and  regula health care institutions so that the States may adopt it as appropriate.  10 States and adopted the Clinical Establishment Act.

Under  NHM,  support  to  States  is  being  provided  to  operationalize  the  Clini Establishment Act.