Lok Sabha Question No. 727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Impact of COVID on Persons with Critical Health Issues
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sumalatha Ambareesh, D.K. Suresh, Nalin Kumar Kateel

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 727 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH February, 2021

## IMPACT OF COVID ON P ERSONS WITH CRITICAL HEALTH ISSUES

## 727. SHRIMATI SUMALATHA AMBAREESH:

SHRI D.K.SURESH:

SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

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

- (a) the details of HIV/AIDS cases reported in the country during the last three years;
- (b)  whether the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the adverse  impact  of  COVID - 19  pandemic particularly on HIV/AIDS and TB patients due to lack of transportation and reduced restricted mobility in the country during the lockdown;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any study  on  impact  of  COVID - 19  on  people suffering from various health related issues, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has taken effective measures to mitigate the impact of COVID - 19 on peop lesuffering from such ailments and ensure proper medical treatment to them, if so, the details thereof?

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): As  per  the  latest  'Sankalak:  Status  of  National  AIDS  Response'  (2020)  report  of  the Government, around 5.56 lakh HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in last three years und HIV  testing  and  counselling  services  of  National  AIDS  Control  Programme  in  country.  T year - wise details of t he same are as below:

| Financial Year   | Reported cases   |
|------------------|------------------|
| 2017- 18         | 191,947          |
| 2018- 19         | 187,382          |
| 2019- 20         | 177,236          |

(b)to(e) : The  National  AIDS  Control  Organization  (NACO)  has  facilitated  service provision  for  HIV/AIDS  and  related  co - morbidities  like  Tuberculosis  during  the  COVID - 19 pandemic to all persons registered with the various facilities under the programme.

NACO  issued guidance  notes  to  all  State/  Union  Territories  AIDS  Control  Societi (SACS) to ensure continuity of service provisions as much as possible through differen modalities like multi - month dispensation of Anti - retroviral treatment (ART), community - based screening for HIV and decentralized options for management. Necessary actions were taken ensure unhindered movements of front - line workers and vehicles towards emergency relocations and delivery of medicines to people living with HIV/AIDS.

States were further instructed not to deny medicines if any HIV positive patients w stranded in other States/districts during the pandemic.

NACO also convened several virtual meetings with all stakeholders including communi representatives to regularly review a nd reiterate these instructions.

NACO  has  also  written  to  all  SACS  as  well  as  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  a Empowerment  for  inclusion  of  PLHIV,  and  other  related  populations  in  social  protect schemes.

NACO has not conducted any study on impact of COVID - 19 on people suffering from HIV/AIDS.