Lok Sabha Question No. 608 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-18
Subject: Health Care in India
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 608 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH NOVEMBER, 2016

## HEALTH CARE IN INDIA

## 608. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the maternal mortality rate in the country is 178 out of 1,00,000, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware that  47  per  cent  of  under - five  chi ldren  in India  are malnourished, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 3.5 hospital beds per 1,000 peoples, while India has 0.7 beds per 1,000 people, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that only one doctor is available for every 1,700 peoples, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  is  aware that  nearly  one  million  Indians  die  every year  due  to inadequate healthcare facilities and clo se to 700 million people have no access to specialist care if so, the reasons thereof; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

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

- (a): As per the official estimates of Registrar General of India Sample Registration S (RGI - SRS), Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has shown a decline from 178 per 100,000 live births in the period 2010 -12 to 167 per 100,000 live births in the period 2011 - 13.

The  reasons  for  maternal  deaths  are  mainly    attributed  to  post  partum  haemorrh eclampsia, anaemia, obstructed labour, co - morbid conditions.

- (b): As per the Rapid Survey of Children (2013 - 14), the prevalence of malnourished children in  India  is  29  per  cent.  The  various  reasons  for  under  nutrition  in  children  may  be inadequate dietary intake and disease, inadequate access to food, inadequate c are for mothers and  children,  insufficient  healthcare  services  and  unhealthy  environment,  poverty, illiteracy, poor access to clean drinking water, hygiene and sanitation, high fertility e

(c): As per the data available under National Health Profile 2016, the hospital bed to people ratio is about 0.6 beds per 1000 population. This figure however, does not include the facilities data.

Support  is  being  provided  under  the  NHM  for  construction  and  up  gradation  o infrastructure in Governm nt health facilities up to district hospitals, development of Mat and Child Health wings etc. which contribute to increasing the availability of hospitals b

(d): As per information provided by Medical Council of India, there are a total of 9,5 198 doctors  registered  with  the  State  Medical  Council/Medical  Council  of  India  as  on  30 th June, 2015. Assuming 80% availability, it is estimated that around 7.67 lakh doctors may be ac available for active service. It gives a doctor - population ratio of 1:1681.

Beside  there  are  7.44  lakh  Ayurveda,  Unani  and  Homeopathy(AUH)  doctors.  Together  they make the ratio 1:893.

The Government has taken various steps to increase the number of doctors. These eff include  (i)  Establishment  of  New  Medical  Coll eges  by  upgrading  district/referral  hospitals preferably  in  underserved  districts  of  the  country;  (ii)  Strengthening  of  existing  Go medical  College  to  increase  UG  seats  (iii)  relaxation  in  the  norms  of  setting  up  of College; (iv) Enhancemen t of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.

(e): Public health being a state subject, no such data is maintained centrally.

(f): Public health being a State subject the primary  responsibility to ensure availab health human resource s  in  public  health  facilities  lies  with  the  State  Governments.  Howev under  the  National  Health  Mission  (NHM),  financial  and  technical  support  is  provide States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems including support for engagement of hum an  resources  on  contractual  basis  and  construction    and  upgradation  of  public  h facilities, based on the requirements posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implement Plans (PIPs).