Lok Sabha Question No. 1148 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-21
Subject: New Health Policy 2017
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: K. ASHOK KUMAR, MIDHUN REDDY, KANWAR SINGH TANWAR, KIRTI (JHA) AZAD, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1148 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST JULY, 2017

## NEW HEALTH POLICY 20 17

## 1148. SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has recently announced New Health Policy (NHP), if so, the details thereof  along  with the changes/modifications  made  in  the previous  health  policy  and  new initiatives taken up in the new policy announced;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  plans  for resource  allocation  to  States  on  the  basis of  the development indicators of the respective States and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  under  the  new  policy  there would  be  a  bigger  focus  on  upgrading  of districts hospitals and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the NHP provides for distribution of family health cards that can be connected to t he public health care facility so that a patient's medical history can be digitally accessed and if so, thedetails thereof;
- (e) whether the NHP provides for raising public health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the Gross DomesticProducts (GDP) from 1.2 p er cent at present, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government has proposed to make health a fundamental right under the NHP, if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a): The Government has formulated National Health Policy, 2017 in the light of the chan that have taken place in the country's health sector scenario since the formulation of National Health Policy, 2002. A statement showing the major c hanges in the National Health Policy, 2017 which was not specifically indicated/addressed in the previous National Health Policy20 Annexed.
- (b): The  National  Health  Policy,  2017  states  that  the  resource  allocation  to  States  w linked with Stat e development indicators, absorptive capacity and financial indicators.
- (c): The  National  Health  Policy,  2017  aspires  to  provide  at  the  district  level  most secondary care which currently provided at a medical college hospital. The policy also ai ten categories of what are currently specialist skills be available withi n the district. The policy also recommends making available atleast five specialist skills at sub - district levels.
- (d): The Policy recommends to have a health card to every family that links them to pri care facility and be eligible for a defined pack age of services anywhere in the country.
- (e): Yes.  The  National  Health  Policy,  2017  provides  for  increasing  public  expenditure health to 2.5% of GDP in a time bound manner by 2025.
- (f): At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to make heal a fundamental right.

## A  statement  showing  the  major  changes  in  the  National  Health Policy,  2017  which  was  not  specifically  indicated/addressed  in the previous National Health Policy 2002

-  The National Health Policy, 2017 marks an important change from the existing selective to comprehensive primary health care package which includes geriatric health care, palliative care and rehabilitative  care  services.  The  policy  envisages  providing  the larger  package  of  comprehensive  primary  health  care  through  the 'Health and Wellness Centers'.
-  The National Health Policy, 2017 policy advocates extensive deployment of digital tools for improving the efficiency and outcome of  the  healthcare  system.  The  policy  aims  at  an  integrated  health information system which serves the needs of all stake-holders and improves  efficiency,  transparency,  and  citizen  experience.  Policy recognizes the integral role of technology (eHealth, mHealth, Cloud, Internet  of  things, wearables,  etc)  in  the  healthcare  delivery,  and has recommended for the establishment of a National Digital Health Authority  (NDHA)  to  regulate,  develop  and  deploy  digital  health across the continuum of care.
-  The  National  Health  Policy,  2017  has  supported  an  integrated approach  where  screening  for  the  most  prevalent  NCDs  with secondary prevention would make a significant impact on reduction of morbidity and preventable mortality. The Policy has recommended for ensuring emphasis on medication and access for select chronic illness on a 'round the year' basis. Policy has further advocated  for  providing  focus  on  screening  of  oral,  breast  and cervical  cancer  and  for  Chronic  Obstructive  Pulmonary  Disease (COPD)  in  addition to hypertension  and  diabetes. The  policy recognizes the growing need for palliative and rehabilitative care for all geriatric illnesses and advocates the continuity of care across all levels.
-  The  policy  recognizes  the  critical  need  of  meeting  the  growing demand  of  tissue and  organ transplant in the  country  and encourages  widespread  public  awareness  to  promote  voluntary donations.
-  The  National  Health  Policy,  2017  recommends  allocating  2/3 rd or more of resources to primary care.
-  The  National  Health  Policy,  2017  envisages  setting  up  of  an empowered  medical  tribunal  for  speedy  resolution to  address disputes/complaints regarding standards of care, prices of services, negligence and unfair practices.

-  The National Health Policy, 2017 ensures progressively incremental Assurance based Approach.
-  The  National  Health  Policy,  2017  seeks  to  eliminate  risks  of inappropriate care by maintaining adequate standards of diagnosis and treatment, through Standard Regulatory Framework.
-  The  National  Health  Policy,  2017  focuses  on mainstreaming  and integration  of  AYUSH  into  healthcare  delivery  through  colocation, cross referrals, and integration with primary healthcare protocol.
-  The National Health Policy, 2017 recommends for universal access to progressively wide array of drugs and diagnostics.
-  The National Health Policy, 2017 envisages focus on special health needs  to  tribal  and  socially  vulnerable  population  groups  and recommends situation specific measures in provisioning and delivery of services.
-  The National Health Policy, 2017 proposes free drugs, free diagnostics and free emergency care services in all public hospitals.
-  The National  Health  Policy,  2017 supports  setting  up  of  National Allied  Professional  Council  to  regulate  and  streamline  all  allied health professionals and ensure quality standards.
-  The National  Health  Policy,  2017 supports  efforts  to  improve occupational health through inter-sectoral collaboration.

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