Lok Sabha Question No. 1068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Shortcomings in Health Infrastructure
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH SEPTEMBER, 2020

## SHORTCOMINGS IN HEAL TH INFRASTRUCTURE

## 1068. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL : SHRI T.R. BAALU:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  on  account  of  COVID - 19  pandemic  has  been  able  to  identify specific shortcomings  in  infrastructure  and  human  resources  in public  health  system  of the country;
- (b) if so, the details of such shortfalls identified;
- (c) the immediate and long term measures the Government proposes to undertake to tide over these shortfalls;
- (d) whether the Government has taken measures to enlist second and third year postgraduate students, interns, dental surgeons and AYUSH officers particularly roping young doctors in place of doctors with co- morbid conditions, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to recommend  cash  incentives  and  co mmendation certificates,  in  the  Covid - 19  scenario,  in  addition  to  the facilities  already  being  provided  to healthcare  workers like  insurance,  quarantine  facilities  and  to  provide  them support  for  their future endeavors and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a)to (c ) Government of India took a series of actions to manage COVID -19 Pandemic in a pre -emptive,  pro - active,  graded  manner  based  on  the  evolving scenario.  This  included  capacity building  for  human  resource  and  health  infrastructure.  Government  of  India  formed empowered groups. Empowered Group II was mandated for infrastructure development, Group III for medical equipment, and Group IV for augmen ting human resource and capacity building. For appropriate management of COVID - 19 cases, a three tier arrangement of health facilities COVID  Care  Center  with  isolation  beds  for  mild  or  pre - symptomatic  cases;  (ii)  Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) w ith oxygen supported isolation beds for moderate cases and

(iii) Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH) with ICU beds for severe cases] has been implemente The details of hospital infrastructure for managing COVID cases in the country are given in Annexure. To b uild the capacities of human resources including the medical manpower who hel managing patients in hospitals; as well as non - medical personnel and field workers involved in surveillance,  logistics  etc.,  modules  have  been  made  available  on  iGOT - Diksha  (o nline platform)  by  DOPT  (https://igot.gov.in/igot/).  The  training  modules  have  been  transla regional languages. Close to 29.15 lakh people have registered for various courses. This 5,699 doctors, 86,018 Ayush Professionals, 4,102 Nurses, 963 Allied Health Professionals, 5,881 frontline workers, 2,70,736 volunteers and 25,42,892 other participants. About 18.96 lakh completions have taken place on iGOT -Diksha platform. Training Resources for medical and non- medical personnel have also been made available on the website of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

(d)As intimated by the Board of Governors In Supersession of Medical Council of India, se and  third  year  PG  students  pursuing  MD/MS  programmes  in  a  Medical  Colleges  being  duly registered  doctors,    their  services  can  be  used  by  the  Medical  College.    Interns  a provisionally registered and hence, they can work only under supervision of a faculty mem a medical college hospital.  Further, Ministry of Ayush has intimated that a number of AYUSH Personnel ,who underwenttraining in 'COVID -19 Preparedness, Response and Containment', have been deployed in fight against Covid - 19 by various State/UTs Governments.

(e)Public health and hospitals being a State subject, it is up to the States/UTs to consider taking appropriate  decision  in  the  matter.    However,  some  hospitals  like  Safdarjung  Hospital informed that Commendation certificates are issued by them to the health care workers who involved in Covid - 19 patient car e management.

Annexure Details of COVID- 19 hospital infrastructure (as on 14th September, 2020)

| Category                                       |   No of Facilities |   Total Isolation beds | O2 Supported beds   | Total ICU beds   | No of Ventilators   |
|------------------------------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|---------------------|------------------|---------------------|
| Cat. I -Dedicated COVID Hospitals / DCH        |               1821 |                 274384 | 136737              | 40483            | 22698               |
| Cat. II - Dedicated COVID Health Center / DCHC |               3990 |                 248219 | 95139               | 22496            | 10164               |
| Total                                          |               5811 |                 522603 | 231876              | 62979            | 32862               |
| Cat. III - Dedicated COVID Center / DCCC       |               9561 |                1027328 | NA                  | NA               | NA                  |
| Grand Total                                    |              15372 |                1549931 | 231876              | 62979            | 32862               |