Lok Sabha Question No. 2955 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Improvement in Services at Government Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shiromani Ram

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2955 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH MARCH, 2021

## IMPROVEMENT IN SERVI CES AT GOVERNMENT HO SPITALS

## 2955. SHRI RAMSHIROM ANI VERMA:

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

(a) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that people are forced to avail treatment in private hospitals due to poor services and infrastructure in government hospitals and if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve the working condition of government hospitals in the country;

(b)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to reduce  treatment  costs  in  private  hospitals  in  the country;

(c) the initiatives taken by the Government toincrease number of hospitals and provide better healthcare services particularly for treatment of critical illnesses and ensuring availability of state of the art medical equipments in the hospitals in the country in l ding Shrawasti parliamentary constituency;

(d) whether the Government has set a target to vaccinate significant number of populace in the country against COVID -19 and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government is contemplating any scheme wherein the people shall be vaccina ted at their door steps and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)  &(b) : 'Public  Health  &  Hospital'  being  a  State  subject,  the  primary  responsibility  to provide  adequate  healthcare  services  in  public  health  facilities  including  the  Gove Hospitals across the country lies with the State Governments.

To  address  the  healthcare  challenges,  particularly  in  rural  areas,  the  National  Rura Mission (NR HM) was launched in 2005 to supplement the efforts of the State/UT government to provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to all those who access publi facilities. Currently, NRHM is a sub - mission of National Health Mission (NHM).

This support under NHM includes provision of a host of free services related to mat health, child health, adolescent health, family planning, universal immunisation programm for major diseases such as Tuberculosis, HIV/ AIDS, vector borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue and Kala Azar, Leprosy etc.

Other major initiatives include Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) (under whi free drugs, free diagnostics, free blood and diet, free transport from home to institutio facilities  in  case  of a  referral  and  drop  back  home  is  provided),  Rashtriya  Bal  Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) (which provides newborn and child health screening and early interventio services free of cost for birth defects, diseases, deficiencies and developmental delays ove the quality of survival), implementation of Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Service Init PM National Dialysis Programme and implementation of National Quality Assurance Framework.

Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) & Telemedicine are also being implem ented with NHM support to improve healthcare access particularly in rural areas.

As part of Ayushman Bharat, the Government is supporting the States for strengthen Sub  Centres  and  Primary  Health  Centres  as  Health  and  Wellness  Centres  (AB -HWCs)  for provi sion of comprehensive primary health care that includes preventive healthcare and h promotionat the community level with continuum of care approach.

Further, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB - PMJAY) provides health  coverage  up  to Rs.  5.00  lakh  per  family  per  year  to  around  10.74  crore  poor  an vulnerable families as per Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC). Inso far as implementation of PMJA Y is concerned, Public hospitals are reimbursed for the healthcare services at par private hospitals under the scheme.

(c) :    As  public health is a State subject, the responsibility of ensuring availability medical equipment in the hospitals lie with the respective State Governments.

In  the  Budget  speech  of  FY  21 -22,  ' Prime  Minister  Atmanirbhar  Swasth  Bharat Yojana' (PM -ASBY) scheme has been announced for an amount of Rs. 64180 Crores. The proposed scheme has a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) component of establishing 50 or 10 bedded critical care blocks for the treat ment of infectious diseases in 602 districts of the count and also has a Central Sector component of setting up 150 bedded critical care blocks Central Institutions.

(d)& (e) : No such target has been set for COVID - 19 vaccination, However, the Na tional Expert Group  on  Vaccine  Administration  for  COVID - 19  (NEGVAC)  has  prioritized  Health  Care Workers, Front Line Workers, persons aged 60 years and above, and those aged between 45 59 years with identified comorbidities for COVID -19 vaccination.

Pres ently,  vaccination  of  Health  Care  Workers,  Front  Line  Workers,  persons  aged years and above, and those aged between 45 to 59 years with identified comorbidities is g at government and private COVID19 Vaccination Centres.