Lok Sabha Question No. 2202 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-11
Subject: Respiratory Ailments due to Air Pollution
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN, K. MARAGATHAM, R. VANAROJA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2202 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH DECEMBER, 2015

## RESPIRATORY AILMENTS

## 2202. SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN: SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM: SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.:

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

- (a)  whether  various  respiratory  ailments including  acute  respiratory  infection  and related casualties due to air pollution are r sing and causing premature deaths i n the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  indicating the  number  of  cases  of  respiratory  ailments and attributable deaths reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT -wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study/survey in this regard, if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
- (d) the remedial measures taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent various respiratory ailments and ensure adequate medical facilities for the patients along with the funds allocated and utilised for the purpose during the above p riod?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a)to (c): W hile  air  pollution  is  known  to  be  one  of  the  aggravating  factors  for respiratory ailments, specific information on the number of cases and deaths due to air pollution is not available.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had sponsored three epidem iological studies to assess  the  long  term  impact  of  air  pollution  on  human  health.  The  studies  indicate pulmonary and systemic changes, altered immunity and other health impairments associated cumulative  exposure  to  high  level  of  particulate  p ollution  that  increases  the  risk  of  various diseases  including  respiratory  diseases.  The  results  are  indicative  rather  than  conclu studies assessed the morbidity aspects and not mortality aspects.

As per  a  survey  conducted  by  Vallabbhai  Patel  Che st  Institute,  Delhi  in  2006,  which covered 5900 adults belonging to urban, rural and slum population in Delhi , 11.69% were to be suffering from Rhinits and 11.03% from Asthma.

(d) : Government  has  taken  measures  to  control  environmental  pollution, tightening  of vehicular and industrial norms, promotion of cleaner technologies, strengthening of netw air quality monitoring stations, pro moting public awareness etc.

Under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, the districts and States ha ve been strengthened  by  providing  additional  manpower,  training  of  identified  Rapid  Response  T (RRT)  members  for  outbreak  investigations,  strengthening  of  laboratories  for  detecti epidemic prone diseases including acute respiratory infections

Health is a State subject and it is primarily the responsibility of the State Gov s for providing health care for the patients including for those suffering from respiratory and other ailments.

The Central Government, however, supplements the efforts of the State Governments. Provisions for health system strengthening are made under the National Health Mission (NH Various schemes are also implementing for strengthening the Tertiary Health Care facilitie

Government  of India  also  provides me dical  facilities  for patients  through  Central Government Hospitals/Institutions in different parts of the country such as All India In Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi , Safdarjung Hospital Delhi , Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital Delhi ,  PGIMER  Chandig arh,  JIPMER  Puducherry,  RIMS  Imphal,  NEIGRIHMS Shillong , NITRD Delhi, among others.

Details of funds specifically allocated & utilised for prevention of and adequate facilities for various respiratory ailments are not maintained centrally.