Lok Sabha Question No. 583 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Treatment of Non-Covid Patients
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara, Keshari Devi Patel, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 583 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 th  FEBRUARY, 2022

## TREATMENT OF NON-COVID PATIENTS

## †583.   SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA: SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL: SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

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

- a) whether the Government is cognizant of the increasing problems being faced by the Non COVID-19 patients in their treatment due to COVID-19 pandemic across the country;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  in  this  regard  including introduction of tele-consultation to address the problem; and
- d) the details of the scheme formulated by the Government to connect tele-consultation with E-Sanjivani?

## ANSWER

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

## (a) and (b):

Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  (MoHFW)  has  been  providing  technical  and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system. Recognising the impact of COVID-19 on delivery of other essential health services, Government of India has taken various steps for continuation of essential services during COVID-19 pandemic:

-  MoHFW has issued a guidance note to States in April 2020, on enabling delivery of Essential Health Services during the COVID 19. MoHFW has also issued guidance to States  in  January  2022,  to  ensure  arrangements  for  the  delivery  of  emergency healthcare services with minimum disruption.
-  There has been continuation of delivery of comprehensive primary healthcare services and  in Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres to non-COVID patients.
-  To ensure accessibility of quality treatment for both COVID and non-COVID health issues,  to  far  flung  areas,  use  of  telemedicine  has  been  promoted  in  a  big  way. 'eSanjeevani',  a  web-based  comprehensive telemedicine solution is being utilized to extend the reach of specialized healthcare services to masses in both rural areas and isolated communities.

(c) and (d):

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)  has  developed  a  telemedicine application eSanjeevani which provides doctor to doctor and patient to doctor consultations.

This application works on a hub and spoke model. Through the hubs medical professional including  specialists  can  provide  services  to  Health  and  Wellness  Centers  (HWCs)  and further people can also avail services through OPD module of eSanjeevani.

To ensure wider outreach of telemedicine services, eSanjeevani application has also been integrated with 3.74 lakh Common Service Centers (CSCs) thereby facilitating access to equitable healthcare in the remotest areas of the country. As on 31 st January, 2022, 2.33 Cr consultations  have  been  conducted  through  eSanjeevani  platform.  Under  ECRP-II  also MoHFW  is  providing  support  to  states/UTs  for  establishing  teleconsultation  hubs  and spokes.

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