Lok Sabha Question No. 2094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-29
Subject: Health Status of Rural Population
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: P. KUMAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 2094 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH JULY, 2016

## HEALTH STATUS OF RUR AL POPULATION

## 2094. SHRI P. KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether about 75 percent of health infrastructure, medical manpower and other health resources are concentrated in urban areas where only 27 percent of the population live;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to address the problems of rural health both at macro and micro levels;
- (c) whether there is any proposal to revise National Health Policy to address prevailing inequalities and working towards promoting a long term perspective plan, mainly for rural health; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGA N SINGH KULASTE)

- (a)& (b): As per the National Health Profile, 2015, the numbe r of beds in rural hospitals is 183602 as against 492177 beds in urban hospitals.

Public  Health  being  a  State  subject,  the  primary  responsibility  to  provide  acce affordable and quality healthcare to its citizens lies with the State Govern ments. To addr ss the  healthcare  challenges,  particularly  in  rural  areas,  the  National  Rural  Health (NRHM) was launched in 2005 to supplement the efforts of the State/UT governments t provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to all th ose whop access public health facilities. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has now been subsumed under th National  Health  Mission  (NHM)  as  its  Sub - Mission,  along  with  National  Urban  Health Mission (NUHM) as the other Sub - Mission.

Contd……

Support  under  NHM  is  provided  to  State/UTs  for  setting  up  new  facilities  and renovation/upgradation  of  existing  facilities,  health  human  resource  on  contractual drugs,  equipment,  diagnostics,  Ambulances,  Mobile  Medical  Units  etc  based  on  t he requirement posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs)

The  government  has  already  taken  steps  towards  provision  of  free  services maternal  health,  child  health,  adolescent  health,  family  planning,  universal  immuni tion programme,  and  for  major  diseases  such  as  TB,  vector  borne  diseases  such  as  Malar dengue  and  Kala  Azar,  leprosy  etc.  Other  major  initiatives  for  which  states  are supported  include  Janani  Shishu  Suraksha  Karyakram  (JSSK),  Rashtriya  Bal  Swasthy a Karyakram  (RBSK),  Rashtriya  Kishor  Swasthya  Karyakram  (RKSK),  implementation  of National  Health  Mission  Free  Drugs  Service  Initiative  and  National  Health  Mission  F Diagnostics  Service  Initiative,  Strengthening  District  Hospitals  and  implementati National  Quality  Assurance  Framework.  To  address  health  inequities,  184  High  Prior Districts have been identified for enhanced fund allocation and focused attention.

In addition, to attract doctors and specialists in rural areas, monetary incent ves such as enhanced remuneration, hard area allowances, government accommodation etc is bein provided. The Central Government has also amended the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 to provide:

- (i)50%  reservation  in  Post  Graduate  Diploma  Cou rses  for  Medical  Officers  in  the Government service who have served for at least three years in remote and difficult and
- (j)Incentive at the rate of 10% of the marks obtained for each year in service in re difficult areas up to the maximum of 30 % of the marks obtained in the entrance test for admissions in Post Graduate Medical Courses.

(c) & (d):      The Government has formulated the draft National Health Policy, 2015 among others recommends setting up of medical colleges in rural areas i n addition to realigning pedagogy and curricula to suit rural health needs.

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