Lok Sabha Question No. 3986 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: National Health Policy, 2017
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Arvind Kumar Sharma

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3986 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2023

## NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY, 2017

## 3986: DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

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

- a) whether any progress has been made to realise aims as stated in National Health Policy 2017, to ensure quality of medicines, develop infrastructure and foster research and to link AYUSH systems to the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) network;
- b) if so, the details thereof; and
- c) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) to  (c)  :  The  National  Health  Policy  formulated  in  2017  envisages  to  provide  universal access to good quality healthcare services through increasing access, increasing affordability by lowering the cost of healthcare delivery and equity. The policy envisages as  its goal the attainment of the highest possible level of health and well-being for all at all ages, through a preventive and promotive healthcare orientation in all developmental policies, and universal access to good quality healthcare services without anyone having to face financial hardship as a  consequence.  The  Policy  is  centered  on  the  key  principles  of  Equity;  Affordability; Universality; Patient Centeredness & Quality of care; accountability; Inclusive partnerships; Pluralism and decentralization.

The Central Govt. has taken several initiatives for supplementing the efforts of the State for providing  quality  and  affordable  healthcare  services  to  the  people.  Under  National  Health Mission  (NHM),  financial  and  technical  support  are  provided  to  States/UTs  to  provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population in both urban and rural areas.

Under National Health Mission (NHM), the Government has taken many steps towards universal health  coverage,  by  supporting  the  State  Governments  in  providing  accessible  &  affordable healthcare to people. The National Health Mission (NHM) provides support for improvement in health infrastructure, availability of adequate human resources to man health facilities, to improve availability and accessibility to quality health care especially for the underserved and marginalized groups in rural areas. Mainstreaming of AYUSH is one of the core strategies in National Health Mission  (NHM)  which  seeks  to  provide  accessible,  affordable  and  quality  health  care  to  the population.

Under National Health Mission (NHM), engagement of Ayurveda Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) doctors/ paramedics are all supported, provided they are colocated with existing District Hospitals (DHs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) with priority given to remote PHCs and CHCs.

As part of Ayushman Bharat, the Government is supporting the States for transformation of Sub Health Centres and Primary Health Centres into Health and Wellness Centres across the country for provision of Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) that includes preventive healthcare and health promotion at the community level with continuum of care approach in order to realize the  goal  of  Universal  Health  Coverage.  Amongst  these,  some  facilities  are  AYUSH-  SHC  or AYUSH dispensaries. AYUSH medicine is also a part of ASHA drug kit for management of primary conditions at the community level.

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