Lok Sabha Question No. 104 (STARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Preparedness for Future Pandemics
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas, Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 104 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH FEBRUARY, 2024

## PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE PANDEMICS

## †*104. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

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

- (a) the measures/steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to prepare against future pandemics in the country;
- (b) the details of financial assistance extended to the States including Maharashtra to tackle pandemics; and
- (c) the details of the outbreak of diseases reported across the country including Maharashtra during the last year?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to ( c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 104 FOR 9 TH FEBRUARY, 2024

(a) Prevention of and preparedness against pandemics is shared global responsibility. In order to better prepare against future pandemics/public health emergencies in the country, Union Ministry of Health provides requisite support to States/UTs to enhance their capabilities.

To enhance disease surveillance activities, Union Ministry of Health has strengthened the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), which allows for a decentralized system of response through trained multi-disciplinary Rapid Response Team (RRTs) to institute requisite public health control and containment measures. IDSP, under Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) has also been strengthened to use advanced data modelling and data analytical tools, contains real-time data reporting, accessible at all levels.

In terms of laboratory strengthening, under IDSP, States have strengthened laboratories at District and State levels. Further, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has established a network of more than 150 Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) for strengthening of nation-wide network of laboratories for timely laboratory based diagnosis of pathogens. In addition besides apex laboratory at National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune and four regional NIVs are being established in Jammu, Jabalpur, Dibrugarh and Bengaluru. ICMR has developed two mobile BSL-3 laboratories to provide essential on-site diagnostic services during outbreaks, especially in remote areas. Further, a National Institute for One Health (NIOH) is being established at Nagpur by ICMR to undertake integrated and holistic research and development across human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors.

With the long-term goal to better prepare country against public health emergencies, Pradhan Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has been launched to enhance the capacity of primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities and institutes for identifying and managing any new and emerging diseases.

(b) Funding support has been provided to States/UTs for health system strengthening to meet any exigency due to public health emergencies like pandemics.

During the FY 2020-21, funds to the tune of Rs. 8473.73 crore have been released to the States/UTs towards the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package (ECRP-I) for health infrastructure strengthening, expansion of laboratory network, surveillance, procurement of medical logistics etc. Under India COVID 19 Emergency Response and Health Systems

Preparedness Package -Phase II, a sum of Rs. 12,740.22 crore support was provided to States/UTs for ramping up health infrastructure and provision of medical logistics. Besides this, States have also been supported in terms of installation of PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption plants) plants.

State/UT wise details of central release of grants in aid through National Health Mission (NHM) under the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package Phase-I and II and Central Release under Pradhan Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) (FY 2021-24) (including funds provided to Maharashtra) is placed at Annexure I.

(c) As reported by States/UTs, a total of 1,802 disease outbreaks including Acute Diarrheal Diseases, Chickenpox, Cholera etc. were reported last year (till 17 th December, 2023).

State/UT wise details of central release of grants in aid through NHM under the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package Phase-I and II and Central release under PM-ABHIM (FY 2021-24) (all figures in Rs. Crores)

|   S. No. | State/UT                           |   ECRP- I |   ECRP- II | Central release under PM-ABHIM from FY 2021-24*   |
|----------|------------------------------------|-----------|------------|---------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Andaman &Nicobar Islands           |     14.87 |      14.22 | 1.11                                              |
|        2 | Andhra Pradesh                     |    441.94 |     417.91 | 55.29                                             |
|        3 | Arunachal Pradesh                  |     22.47 |     149.13 | 9.49                                              |
|        4 | Assam                              |    222.47 |     731.22 | 151.47                                            |
|        5 | Bihar                              |    200.73 |    1032.87 | 133.03                                            |
|        6 | Chandigarh                         |     36.54 |       9.47 | 9.98                                              |
|        7 | Chhattisgarh                       |    118.61 |     376.07 | 44.78                                             |
|        8 | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu |      4.77 |       4.76 | 0.24                                              |
|        9 | Delhi                              |    801.71 |      30.21 | -                                                 |
|       10 | Goa                                |     19.36 |      11.78 | 3.81                                              |
|       11 | Gujarat                            |    311.99 |     479.22 | 75.58                                             |
|       12 | Haryana                            |    194.95 |     182.42 | 30.04                                             |
|       13 | Himachal Pradesh                   |     56.61 |     344.79 | 28.05                                             |
|       14 | Jammu &Kashmir                     |    197.76 |     407.3  | 39.12                                             |
|       15 | Jharkhand                          |     74.22 |     383.34 | 330.01                                            |
|       16 | Karnataka                          |    437.64 |     504.04 | 117.98                                            |
|       17 | Kerala                             |    622.78 |     173.89 | 28.64                                             |
|       18 | Ladakh                             |     44.98 |      62.51 | 0.31                                              |
|       19 | Lakshadweep                        |      0.89 |       1.49 | 0.63                                              |
|       20 | Madhya Pradesh                     |    293.95 |     874.35 | 273.90                                            |
|       21 | Maharashtra                        |   1248.08 |     820.77 | 21.52                                             |
|       22 | Manipur                            |     21.09 |      98.73 | 22.37                                             |
|       23 | Meghalaya                          |     15.61 |     104.12 | 52.93                                             |
|       24 | Mizoram                            |     10.19 |      61.25 | 6.22                                              |
|       25 | Nagaland                           |     10.57 |      77.6  | 4.78                                              |
|       26 | Odisha                             |    156.26 |     517.18 | 342.99                                            |
|       27 | Puducherry                         |     24.55 |       5.42 | 2.39                                              |
|       28 | Punjab                             |    170.94 |     198.89 | 24.16                                             |
|       29 | Rajasthan                          |    435.32 |     883.37 | 285.18                                            |
|       30 | Sikkim                             |      7.46 |      41.05 | 2.69                                              |
|       31 | Tamil Nadu                         |    893.74 |     479.59 | 335.49                                            |
|       32 | Telangana                          |    392.74 |     298.68 | 104.70                                            |
|       33 | Tripura                            |     24    |      83.72 | 3.38                                              |
|       34 | Uttar Pradesh                      |    557.49 |    1879.88 | 422.32                                            |
|       35 | Uttarakhand                        |     75.47 |     394.22 | 33.87                                             |
|       36 | West Bengal                        |    310.98 |     604.76 | 40.86                                             |

1. Central Release for the F.Y. 2023-24 is updated up to 20.01.2024 and is provisional.
2. The above releases relate to Central Govt. Grants & do not include State share contribution.