Lok Sabha Question No. 3377 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Acute Respiratory Infection
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3377 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH MARCH, 2020

## ACUTE RESPIRATORY IN FECTION

## 3377. SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

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

- (a) whether the cases of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) have increased in the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/U T-wise along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  appointed Pulmonologist  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of patients of ARI in Central Government Hospitals across the country during the said period;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State/UT - wis and hospital - wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government in this direction?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e): As per data from Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), State / Uni Territory (UT) wise details of cases of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) ,in the country during the years 2016 -2018 are given in Annexure.

In January 201 9, Government launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to tackle the  problem  of  air  pollution  in  a  comprehensive  manner  with  targets  to  achieve  20  to reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024, keeping 2017 as base year. The over object ive is to augment and evolve effective ambient air quality monitoring network acros country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatem of air pollution and enhancing public awareness and capacity building meas ures.

The plan includes 102 non - attainment cities, across 23 States and Union Territories, the  basis  of  their  ambient  air  quality  data  between  2011  and  2015  and  World  Hea Organization  (WHO)  report  2014/2018.  A  total  of  86  city  specific  action  plans have  been approved for ground implementation.

In view of probable linkage of Respiratory illnesses with deteriorating Air Quality Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also initiated following activities:

- Initiation  of  daily  Sentinel  surveillance  for  Acute  Respiratory  Illnesses  in  Eme Department of Central Government Hospitals
- Providing  feedback  to  hospitals  for  undertakings  appropriate  measures  for  manag respiratory illnesses in their hospitals
- Issuing Health advisory on health effects of Air Pollution to Health department of al Lasthealth advisory was issued in September - October 2019 and then again after Diwali when AQI deteriorated beyond very Poor -Severe levels
- Prepared  and  shared  I nformation,  Education  and  Communication  (I EC ) posters  on  Air Pollution and its health effects with State Health Departments
- Air  Pollution  and  Health  effects  campaign  have  also  been  run  on    Social  media  (on websites of Ministry of Health and Family Welf are and National Centre for Disease Control, Twitter handle and Facebook page)
- The  States  have  also  been  advised  to  initiate  sentinel  surveillance  for  Acute  Resp Illnesses in at least four to five major hospitals in the cities listed as highly poll ted cities by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Government  appoints Pulmonologist s  in  the  Central  Government  Hospitals  as  per vacancies and all possible efforts are made to fill up these vacancies of Pulmonologist following due procedure.

## State/UT- wise Cases due to Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) reported during the years 2016 2018

Annexure -

| S. No.   | State /U.T        | 2016        | 2017        | 2018 (Provisional)   |
|----------|-------------------|-------------|-------------|----------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh    | 30,49,810   | 31,03,021   | 31,49,897            |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh | 21,670      | 36,250      | 33,668               |
| 3        | Assam             | 20,667      | 22,834      | 24,100               |
| 4        | Bihar             | 10,72,172   | 9,88,493    | 9,76,181             |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh      | 4,41,269    | 4,91,234    | 4,58,828             |
| 6        | Goa               | 61,300      | 78,854      | 88,564               |
| 7        | Gujarat           | 18,39,032   | 19,64,767   | 22,10,656            |
| 8        | Haryana           | 11,62,451   | 10,25,546   | 10,59,216            |
| 9        | Himachal Pradesh  | 16,49,023   | 15,51,213   | 15,94,952            |
| 10       | Jammu & Kashmir   | 7,63,176    | 9,87,906    | 9,07,757             |
| 11       | Jharkhand         | 2,77,475    | 3,38,154    | 2,61,427             |
| 12       | Karnataka         | 20,72,421   | 22,45,121   | 24,23,278            |
| 13       | Kerala            | 56,00,975   | 58,87,367   | 58,57,820            |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh    | 17,82,675   | 17,35,465   | 11,65,501            |
| 15       | Maharashtra       | 19,67,432   | 18,47,300   | 17,36,580            |
| 16       | Manipur           | 46,272      | 51,205      | 54,108               |
| 17       | Meghalaya         | 4,43,764    | 3,75,727    | 3,52,443             |
| 18       | Mizoram           | 45,640      | 30,949      | 35,831               |
| 19       | Nagaland          | 34,771      | 33,193      | 36,032               |
| 20       | Odisha            | 25,12,502   | 23,44,668   | 17,92,816            |
| 21       | Punjab            | 6,39,631    | 6,49,023    | 5,64,489             |
| 22       | Rajasthan         | 37,93,357   | 44,79,438   | 47,57,749            |
| 23       | Sikkim            | 1,09,541    | 99,310      | 96,258               |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu        | 22,11,247   | 22,19,661   | 20,42,366            |
| 25       | Telangana         | 11,89,102   | 7,69,370    | 7,40,009             |
| 26       | Tripura           | 1,78,634    | 1,81,932    | 2,35,925             |
| 27       | Uttarakhand       | 2,37,115    | 2,28,397    | 1,90,705             |
| 28       | Uttar Pradesh     | 23,64,820   | 28,33,171   | 29,84,268            |
| 29       | West Bengal       | 35,45,019   | 39,41,640   | 43,77,093            |
| 30       | A & N Islands     | 57,220      | 39,553      | 36,705               |
| 31       | Chandigarh        | 1,71,977    | 1,52,454    | 1,56,832             |
| 32       | D & N Haveli      | 84,301      | 73,411      | 74,485               |
| 33       | Daman & Diu       | 73,171      | 81,235      | 78,917               |
| 34       | Delhi             | 3,55,234    | 2,61,963    | 4,21,467             |
| 35       | Lakshadweep       | 35,198      | 43,908      | 33,374               |
| 36       | Puducherry        | 9,00,460    | 10,05,900   | 9,85,963             |
| Total    |                   | 4,08,10,524 | 4,21,99,633 | 4,19,96,260          |

Source:

Monthly Health Condition Reports from Directorate of Health Services of States/UTs