Lok Sabha Question No. 3445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Arthritis
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Dhanush M Kumar, Subrata Pathak

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3445 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH MARCH, 2020

## ARTHRITIS

## 3445. SHRI SELVAM G.:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

DR. HEENA GAVIT:

SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that over 180 million people in India are affected by arthritis, if so, th details thereof along with the reasons for such large number of people affected by arthritis;
- (b) whether many of the patients of arthritis are not able to get good treatment due to shortage of trained rheumatologists  and  the  management  of  this  disease done  by untrained  doctors  and quacks;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State/UT - wise including Tripura and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the number of rheumatologists working in different Government hospitals in the country;
- (e ) whether the Government proposes to include arthritis in the National Health Programme and provide financial assistance to such needy patients, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the other measures being taken by the Government fo  facilitating affordab le treatment of arthritis  and  other bone  related  diseases  and  also  development  of  diagnostic and  treatment technology for rheumatoid arthritis?

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

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (f): Arthritis  is  a  disease  of  joints  (inflammation  of  joints)  and    different Arthritis include Osteo Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Infectious Arthritis and Gout.

The reasons of Arthritis include injury, abnormal metabolism leading to gout, genetic such as Osteo Arthritis, Infectious and Immune system disfunction.  Ageing and unhealth style remain the major contributory factors. Public health and hospitals is a State subject. The Central Government, however, supplements the efforts of State Government. Information about number of people suffering from Arthritis and number of Rheumatologists working in diffe Government hospitals  is  not maintained centrally.

Arthritis  is  managed  by    orthopedics surgeon,  general  physician,  rheumatologist  etc. depending upon type of Arthritis. There is no specific national programme for preventio control  of  Arthritis.    However,  the      National  Programme  for  Health  Care  of  the  El (NPHCE) addresses the issu e of Arthritis among elderly.  Treatment in Government Hospitals including treatment for  arthritis is free or  subsidised. In  addition,  Affordable  Medicines  and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Deendayal outlets have been opened at more than 2 In stitutions/Hospitals  with  an  objective  to  make  available  drugs  and  implants  at  disc prices  to  the  patients.    Jan  Aushadhi  stores  are  set  up  by  Department  of  Pharmaceuti provide generic drugs at affordable prices. Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojna (PMJAY) provides for benefit coverage of Rs. 5,00,000/ - to  over  more  than  10  crore  beneficiary  families,  giving cashless access to services  in empanelled hospitals (both public and private) across Indi