Lok Sabha Question No. 2149 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-29
Subject: Rheumatic Arthritis
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRE D  QUESTION NO. 2149 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH JULY, 2016

## RHEUMATIC ARTHRITIS

## 2149. SHRI RAOSAHEB DANVE PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the risk of Rheumatic Arthritis and Gout has increases due to low quality air;

- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the cities where the risk of these ailments has increased due to air pollution;

- (c) whether the Government has made any separate arrangements for treatment of such patients and if so, the details thereof; and

- (d) whether the Government has prepared any policy/programme to reduce or eliminate the air pollution, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) : There is no evidence of any causal relationship between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout and quality of air.

- (b) : Does not arise.

- (c) : Patients  suffering  from  Rheumatoid  Arthritis  and  Gout  are  treated  in  the  medi Department or in the Department of Rheumatology where it has been established. Most lar Government hospitals have medicine Department.

- (d) : As informed by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the major step being taken by the Government to control air pollution inter alia include the following:

- I. Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards;

- II. Formulation of environment al regulations/statutes;

- III. Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;

Contd… ..

- IV. Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol etc;
- V. Promotion of cleaner production processes.
- VI. Launching of National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015;
- VII. Implementation  of  Bharat  Stage  IV  (BS -IV)  norms  in  63  selected  cities  and universalization of BS -IV by 2017;
- VIII. Decision taken to leapfrog directly from BS -IV to BS - VI fuel standard s by 1 st April, 2020;
- IX. Taxing polluting vehicles and incentivizing hybrid and electric vehicles;
- X. Comprehensive amendments to various Waste Management Rules including Municipal Solid  Waste,  Plastic  Waste,  Hazardous  Waste,  Bio - medical  Waste  and  Electronic Was te notified;
- XI. Notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules;
- XII. Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e - rickshaws and promotion of carpooling, Pollution Under Control, lane discipline, vehicle maintenance;
- XIII. Revision  of  exis t ng  environmental  standards  and  formulation  of  new  standard  for prevention and control of pollution from industries;
- XIV. Regular co - ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Delhi and o State Governments within the NCR;
- XV. Issuance  of  direct ions  under  Section  5  of  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  and under Section 18(1) (b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
- XVI. Installation of on - line continuous (24x7) monitoring de vices by major industries.

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