Lok Sabha Question No. 3119 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: National Action Plan for Climate Change and Human Health
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3119 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH JANUARY, 2018

## NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEA LTH

## 3119. SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has constituted an expert Committee on Nati onal Action Plan on Climate Change and Human Health and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Committee has submitted its report to the Government;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the main recommendations made by the Committee;
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government on the basis of the recommendations of the Committee;
- (e) whether the Government has constituted an Environment and Climate Change Cell under the Directorate General of Health Services; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the matters dealt by said Cell?

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

- (a): Yes, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has constituted a National Expert Group Climate  Change  and Health  in  the  year  2015  under  the  chairmanship  of  Dr  Vishwa  Mohan Katoch,  Former  Secretary  (Health  Research),  &  Former  DG,  Indian  Council  of  Medical Research. The Expert group has members from Indian Council of Medical Research, Nationa Vector  Borne  Disea se  Control  Programme,  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare,  Public Health  Foundation  of  India,  National  Disaster  Management  Authority,  Indian  Agricultu Research Institute, The Energy and Resources Institute, World Health Organization and Nat Centr e  for  Disease Control (NCDC) etc. Director, NCDC is member secretary for this exp group  and  for  drafting  the  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  &  Human  Health (NAPCCHH) .

( b) : The Expert Group met thrice on 12/08/2015, 07/01/2016 and 21/04/2016. A fter detailed deliberation s,  expert  group  has  prepared  a  draft  on  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Chan and Human Health.  The draft  of  NAPCCHH  was  submitted  to heMinistry  of  Environment, Forest  &  Climate Change on 18th November 2016. The draft is under revision based on the inputs received from stakeholders and general public.

(c ): Main Recommendations for all States and UTs are as follows:

- Establishment  of  a  dedicated  cell  namely  'State  Health  Cell  for  Environment  &  Climate Change', for providing Climate Health Services.
- Identification  of  Nodal  Officer  for  climate  health  services  from  State  Health  Depar Ministry.
- Constitution  of  Expert  team/  task  force  comprising  of  Regional  Directors  (Health), Surveillance Officers (Health) representat ives from State Department of Environment, Forest &  Climate  Change,  Regional  Metrological  Office  (IMD),  State  Pollution  Control  Boar Drinking  Water  and  Sanitation,  Agriculture,  Earth  Sciences  (including  metallurgy),  I branch (if any in the State) and Disaster Management Authority.
- The Nodal officer and the expert team have to assess vulnerability and do risk mapping climate  sensitive illnesses  in  their  respective  S tates  and  UTs,  based  upon  the  demography, health related statistics, healthcare infrast ucture, geo - physical and climate variables etc.
- Strengthen/ Develop surveillance system like IDSP for climate sensitive illnesses in St Union Territories.

(d) : Four Regional Consultations have been conducted to address the diversity of  Indi a in terms of geography, climatic conditions, resources and infrastructure etc.

These Regional consultations and oth er related communications with S tates and UTs have resulted in   sensitization for the impact of Climat e Change on Human Health. Also States and UTs are being encouraged to draft the State - specific Health action Plan for Climate sensitive diseases.

(e) & (f): Environmental  Health  and  Climate  Change  work  is  being  handled  in  the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Section of Directo rat  General of Health Services. Health issues related to Environment Climate Change and Bio - Medical Waste Management are handled in the EPI Section.