Lok Sabha Question No. 751 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Healthcare
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Preneet Kaur

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 751 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH February, 2021

## IMPACT OF COVID - 19 ON RURAL HEALTHCA RE

## 751. SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR:

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

(a) whether the Government has conducted any study/survey to assess the impact of COVID - 19 on healthcare services in rural areas;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons t herefor;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any plan/strategy to combat the lack of public health infrastructure in rural and remote areas;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the quantum of funds the Government proposes to invest in the public health system in rural and  remoteareas  along  with  the  estimated  time  period  within  which details  will  be  made available; and

(f)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide any  formal  medical  training  to  healthcare providers in rural areas 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) : No study/survey has been conducted by MoHFW to assess the impact of COVID -19 on healthcare services in rural areas. However, Public Health and Hospitals being the State subject,  all  the  States/UTs  were  requested  to  ensure  the  provision  of  services  for management and also towards the provision of essential services during the current public challenge  arising out  of  COVID - 19. States/UTs  are  being  provided  required  technical  and financial assistance for strengthening of their healthcare system including management COVID - 19  Public Health Challenge from time to time.  All the States/UTs are provided necessary  financial  support  under India  COVID- 19  Emergency  Response  and  Health  System Preparedness Package .

(c )& ( d) : As 'Public Health & Hospitals' being a State subject, the primary responsibility for  ensuring  healthcare  services  including  strengtheni ng  public  health  care  infrastructure  lies with respective State Government.

To  address  the  healthcare  challenges,  particularly  in  rural  areas,  the  Nationa Health  Mission  (NRHM)  was  launched  in  2005  to  supplement  the  efforts  of  the  State/U governments  to  provide  accessible,  affordable  and  quality  healthcare  to  all  those  who access public health facilities. Currently, NRHM is a sub - m sion of National Health Mission (NHM). NHM  support  is  provided  to  States/  UTs  for  setting  up  of  new  facilities  as  per  norm upgradation of existing facilities for bridging the infrastructur e gaps based on the requirement posed by them.

- (e) : Pursuant  to  the  announcement  of  Finance  Minister  on  components  of Health  Sector Reforms and Initiatives , with the suggestions and comments from NITI Aayog, related Ministries and  States/UTs,  a  cabinet  note  for  a  scheme  titled  'Prime  Minister's  Atmanirbhar  Swasth Bharath Yojana (PM -ASBY)' has been forwarded to the Cabinet Secretariat, for an amount of Rs.64, 179.75 crores, with the approval of Hon'ble Finance Minister and Hon'ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in November 2020. The Scheme has also been announced by Hon'ble Finance Minister in the Budget Speech on 1st February, 2021
- (f) : Under National Health Mission, based on the proposals received from the States/UTs their  annual  programme  implementation  plans,  support  is  provided  for  imparting  neces training to healthcare providers in the public healthcare facilities including those in rural areas