Lok Sabha Question No. 3370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Balance between Physical and Social Health Infrastructure
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Geetha Viswanath Vanga

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3370 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## BALANCE BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE

## 3370: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

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

- (a)    whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strike  a  balance  between  ramping  up physical infrastructure and the social infrastructure such as healthcare systems, as the country faces a huge need to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure and engage  multilateral  lenders  to  fund  both  social  as  well  as  climate  resilient infrastructure, particularly for women/girls in the country, State/UT-wise; and
- (b)   if so, the details thereof and steps being taken in this regard, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) & (b): The Government of India is supporting various schemes and programs to strengthen social infrastructure such as the health system.

Some of the key steps taken by the Government in this regard are as follows:

- -Under National Health Mission, technical and financial support is provided to the States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare system including for expansion of public health facilities such as District Hospital, Community Health Centres(CHCs), Primary Health Centres(PHCs) and Sub-Health Centres(SHCs).
- -Under Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Government of India has approved setting up of 1.5 lakh Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) , across  the  country  by  upgrading  Sub-Health  Centres  (SHCs),  Primary  Health

Centres  (PHCs)  and  Urban  Primary  Health  Centres  (UPHCs)  by  December, 2022.  to  provide  the  expanded  package  of  services  to  ensure  comprehensive primary healthcare.

- -In addition, 'India COVID-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness  Package  II has  also  been  approved  by  the  Cabinet  with  Rs. 23,123 crores (with Rs. 15,000 Cr as Central Component & Rs. 8,123 Cr as State component) and is   implemented from 1 st July,  2021.  This  includes  support to State/ UT level for ramping up health infrastructure including those in rural, tribal and peri-urban areas closer to the community, providing support for procurement of  drugs and diagnostics to enhance service delivery at district and sub district levels  for  management  of  COVID-19  cases  (including  paediatric  care)  and  for maintaining a buffer of drugs, support for IT Interventions such as implementation of  Hospital  Management  Information  System  (HMIS)  and  expanding  access  to tele-consultations in all districts and support for capacity building and training for all aspects of management of COVID-19.
- -Further, PM  Ayushman  Bharat  Health  Infrastructure  Mission  (PM-ABHIM) with an outlay of Rs. 64,180 crores till 2025-26 envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to safeguard against future resurgences of COVID-19, if any, and future public health emergencies by:
- o Strengthening  of  Health  and  Wellness  Centres  in  villages  and  cities  for early detection of diseases.
- o Addition of new critical care-related beds at district level hospitals.
- o Operationalization of Regional  National  Centres  for  Disease  Control (NCDC).
- o Establishment of metropolitan units in urban areas and BSL-III labs across the country to strengthen the laboratory network.
- o Strengthening  of  existing  Viral  Diagnostic  and  Research  Labs  (VRDLs) and creation of new National Institutes of Virology (NIVs) and a National Institute for One Health through ICMR.
- o Strengthening  of  Public  Health  Units  at  international  Points  of  Entry (PoEs).
- -Under NHM, participation of the communities and Panchayati Raj Institutions  (PRIs)  in  matters  related  to  health is  constantly  encouraged  to ensure that various committees and societies at community, facility, district and state  level  has  been  created.    Some  of  the  key  platform  and  committees  are placed below: -
-  Rogi  Kalyan  Samiti:  The  RKS  plays  a  supportive  and  complementary role  to  the  hospital  administration  in  ensuring  the  provision  of  universal, equitable  and  high-quality  services,  and  in  ensuring  support  services  in addition to holding the administration accountable keeping the centrality of patient welfare in mind.
-  Jan  Arogya Samiti:  Rogi  Kalyan  Samiti  at  PHC  and  SHCs  has  been converted  into  Jan  Arogya  Samiti.  The  function  of  JAS  is  to  serve  as institutional platform of SHC/PHC level AB-HWCs, for community participation in its management, governance and ensuring accountability, with respect to provision of healthcare services and amenities.
-  At  community  level:  At  the  SHC  level,  ASHA  and  Village  Health Sanitation  and  Nutrition  Committees,  (and  subsequently,  ASHA  and Mahila Arogya Samities (MAS) in urban areas) are required to undertake community action for health, in the form of monitoring health and related public services through undertaking semi-annual Jan Sunwais or community hearings, at which staff from AB-HWCs / SHCs are required to be present.