Lok Sabha Question No. 1096 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-21
Subject: Injectable Contraceptives
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN, HARISH CHANDRA MEENA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1096 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST JULY, 2017

## INJECTABLE CONTRACEP TIVES

## 1096. SHRI SUMAN BALKA: SHRI HARISH MEENA:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  plans to  introduce  injectable  contraceptives  in  the National Family Planning Programme (NFPP), to expand the basket of choices available to women and if so,the  details thereof;  various  other  health  groups  have  cautioned the  Government  against introducing injectable contraceptives in the public health system and adverse effects of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) on women's health and if so the detail s thereof;

(c) whether the Government provide guidelines on the utilization of injectable contraceptive and provision to mention its side effects on the packaging;

(d) whether Government is aware of the fact that studies from Africa have shown that the risk of HIV infection may increase for women who have been administered injectable contraceptives and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether Government plans to promote vasectomy, due to these side effects, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereon; and

(f)  whether  the  reasons  for  client dissatisfaction,  discontinuation  or  low acceptance  of contraceptive  methods  has been  monitored  along  with  regular  feedback mechanism  for  the services offered under family planning service deli very at facility level, if so the details thereof, State - wiseparticularly in Rajasthan?

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

(a): Yes,  the  Government  has  already  introduced  Injectable  contraceptives  in  the  Nati Family Planning Programme to expand the basket of choices available to women.

It has been decided to introduce it in a phased manner starting from Medical Coll Dist rict Hospitals followed by Sub district facilities.

(b)& (c) : Yes, caution  was  raised  for  probable  side  effects  associated  with  inject contraceptives.  However  the  ministry  constituted  a  high  powered  technical  resource  g comprising leading gynaeco logists in the country including Heads of departments of Gynecology of prominent medical colleges of India, which unanimously opined that there are no serious risks associated with injectable contraceptive and it is a suitable and feasible method for intro duction in  the  FP  program.  Subsequently  the  Drug  Technical  Advisory  Board  of  the  DCGI  als recommended its introduction and DCGI gave a formal approval for introducing it in the p health system.

The  technical  guidelines  have  been  developed  and  widely disseminated.  The  product insert in the packaging also mentions the probable side effects.

(d): No.

(e): Family  planning  program  offers  basket  of  contraceptive  choices  and  focuses volunteerism. All the available choices including vasectomy are promoted under the National Family Planning Program.

(f) : Monitoring  of  the  Family  Planning  programme  is  regularly  done  through  supportin supervision visits, common review missions, HMIS, physical reports and analysis of survey

Moreover the assessment of client satisfaction is carried out by State and district assurance committees.