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HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE
The UPA Government completes one year on May 21, 2005. During this period, the Government has taken several important initiatives. Some of these are being brought out in the series ‘Major Decisions and Initiatives’.
National Rural Health Mission
The Government has launched the National Rural Health Mission (2005-12) on April 12, 2005 by the Prime Minister throughout the country with special focus on 18 States. The next phase of the Reproductive & Child Health Programme (RCH-II) was launched from April 2005, at a projected outlay of Rs. 40,000 crore over the next five years.
National Aids Control Programme
As part of the National AIDS Control Programme, the Government has initiated Anti Retroviral Therapy to AIDS patients through 25 Hospitals. Partnership on HIV/AIDS control programming expanded with the inclusion of other organisations like Clinton Foundation and World Food Programme. The services of clinics like in each district hospital in the country will also be ensured. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Clinic, Voluntary counseling and testing centers (VCDC), and Prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) Clinic.
Child Health
Significant progress has been achieved in the eradication of Polio. Number of polio cases has declined from 225 in 2003 to 136 in 2004. The goal is to achieve complete interruption of polio-virus transmission in 2005. AD syringes will be introduced in immunization sessions throughout the country in 2005. These syringes cannot be re-used. Additional support will be produced to the States for vaccine delivery and mobilisation of children in immunisation session sites by ASHAs and other service providers. Hepatitis B Immunization programme will be expanded in well-performing States where the DPT 3rd dose coverage is 80 per cent and above. A low osmolarity ORS was launched on June 2, 2004. All supplies of ORS in the country are now of low osmolarity. The National Breastfeeding Partnership has been launched to promote breastfeeding in the country. An Integrated Management of Neo Natal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) plan was launched in four districts in each of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Utrranchal. In response to Tsunami disaster, a framework for Management of Childhood Illnesses in Emergencies has been prepared.
Revised National TB Control Programme
The National TB Control Programme has been expanded to cover additional 100 million population in 100 districts/reporting units. By February 2005, 957 million population (88 per cent) in 51 districts across the country will have access to the programme. It is proposed to cover the whole country under the programme during 2005. For the first time in India, a web-based resource centre has been developed for preparing TB communication materials. This is the first of its kind for any disease control programme in India.
National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme
Malaria cases has been reduced to 1.71 million in 2004 by up scaling of Anti Malaria operations. Over 4 lakh fever treatment depots and drug distribution centres through village based volunteers to make anti malaria drugs available at the doorsteps. Anti-Malaria Month was observed in the country during the month of May-June 2004. National Filaria Day was observed on June 5 with the objective of elimination of Filariasis from the country. Malaria and other vector borne diseases in the Tsunami affected areas in Andaman and Nicobar Islands were effectively controlled by providing additional man and material support. ‘Kala-azar fortnight’ was observed to accelerate efforts for eliminating the disease. The annual budget of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme increased from Rs. 246 crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 348 crore in 2005-06.
Public Health
Sale of Tobacco Products within a radius of 100 yards of Educational Institutions throughout the country was banned under the Provisions of Comprehensive Tobacco Control Legislation. The “Report on Tobacco Control in India” was released. The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) was introduced in 47 more districts across the country. A National Programme on Prevention and control of Deafness is under preparation.
National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP)
The revised National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has been put in place to bridge the gaps in the availability of cancer treatment facilities in the country. Under the revised NCCP, the quantum of assistance has been enhanced to a one time assistance of Rs.3.00 crore instead of existing assistance of Rs.75.00 lakh per year. PGIMER, Chandigarh and SGPGI, Lucknow has been recognised as additional New Regional Research Centres (RCCs). The quantum of assistance under Oncology grant has been enhanced from Rs. Two crore to Rs. Three crore. Government Hospitals have also been declared eligible for this grant.
National Proramme for Control of Blindness
Vision 2020 provides for the Right to Sight. The programme was launched on October 10, 2004.
National Leprosy Elimination Programme
The National goal of elimination of leprosy is to be achieved by December 2005. Leprosy prevalence rate has declined from 2.44 to 1.76 by March, 2005 (Provisional). The number of States to achieve elimination of leprosy has gone up from 17 to 20.
Non-Communicable Disease Control Programmes
A National Programme for cardiovascular diseases/stroke is on the anvil. Similarly, a National Programme on prevention/control of diabetes is also proposed to be launched.
An Integrated Diseases Surveillance Project was launched in November 2004. The second phase of the project will cover 12 States in the year 2005.
Emergency Medical Relief
More than 100 doctors consisting of physicians, psychiatrics, general duty medical officers, public health specialists and paramedical workers were sent to the Tsunami affected coastal areas. About Rs. Two crore worth of emergency medical supplies were given to Pondicherry, A & N Islands and Kerala for relief operations. A Surveillance unit was set up at Port Blair for early detection of potential outbreaks of diseases in wake of the Tsunami for rapid response. A focal outbreak of Bubonic plague in a village in Uttarkashi (Uttaranchal) in the second and third week of October 2004 was successfully contained in less than two weeks.
Medical Stores Organisation
A wide spectrum Formulary of proprietary medicines containing 504 medicines has been put in place for CGHS beneficiaries. During July – August 2004, the States of Assam, Bihar & Gujarat were affected by severe Floods. Andaman & Nicobar Island, Pondicherry & Tamil Nadu were affected by the Tsunami Disaster during last week of December, 2004. Again during February 2005, Jammu & Kashmir State was affected by Avalanche disaster. To meet these emergent situation, required quantity of medicines were rushed to these States at short notice. The value of medicines supplied to these States during such emergency situation was:
1.
Assam (Flood)
Rs. 60,00,814.00
2.
Bihar (Flood)
Rs. 69,43,995.00
3.
Gujarat (Flood)
Rs. 95,74,035.00
4.
Pondicherry (Tsunami Waves)
Rs. 19,11,464.00
5.
Andaman & Nicobar Island (Tsunami Waves)
Rs. 12,95,215.00
6.
Jammu & Kashmir (Snow Avalanche)
Rs. 47,66,514.00
Emergency supplies of medicines were sent to the flood affected States of Assam, Bihar & Gujarat in July-August, 2004, for A&N Islands, Pondicherry & Tamil Nadu during Tsunami disaster in December 2004, and for J&K during Snow Avalanche disaster.
Establishment of AIIMS like Institutions
Action has been taken to implement the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) by establishment of six AIIMS- like institutions in the underserved States and upgradation of seven medical institutions in other six States.
Post Graduate Institutes
Foundation stone has been laid for establishment of a Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Dr. R M L Hospital, New Delhi by the Minister for Health & Family Welfare in November 2004.
Para-Medical Matters
Paramedical and Physiotherapy Councils Bill to regulate and maintain the standards of certain paramedical professions and physiotherapy/ occupational therapy approved by the Cabinet. A revised scheme of Development of Nursing Services has been approved for implementation during X Plan. The Scheme provides for enhanced assistance for training programmes for nurses and for strengthening of the Schools of Nursing in the States.
It is also proposed to establish Colleges of Nursing in the Central Government Hospitals and upgrade identified Schools of Nursing attached to Medical Colleges in the States into Colleges of Nursing.
PNDT Division
A Central Supervisory Board has been constituted to monitor the implementation of the Act under the Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection (PNDT) Act. A National Advocacy Strategy on PNDT and related issues has been formulated with cooperation of UNFPA. Involve various stakeholders e.g. judiciary, major organisations, spiritual/religious leaders to create awareness on PNDT related issues.
Rural Health
The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) was assigned the task of evaluation of Sub-Centers in selected districts across the country. Under Reproductive and Child Health Programme and Major and Minor Civil Work Scheme, funds were released to the States/UTs for strengthening the Primary Health Infrastructure. A Task Force on Strengthening of Public Health Institutions, Formulation of Indian Public Health Standards, ensuring availability of doctors in the rural areas and mainstreaming of AYUSH constituted under the National Rural Health Mission.
Manpower Management
Technical posts of various categories under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have been exempted from the downsizing exercise.
Intrahealth Portal
A portal designed by the NIC called Intrahealth was launched by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare on March 21, 2005. This portal will help disseminate information to the employees within the Ministry. It would particularly help in file tracking, expenditure monitoring, monitoring of important projects and maintain employees database.
Department of AYUSH
In order to popularize the Indian systems of medicine and homoeopathy, AYUSH wings have been opened in District Hospitals. Eight specialty clinics/polyclinics were established and essential drugs were supplied to 8,152 Ayurveda, Sidha, Unani and Homoeopathic Dispensaries in Rural and backward areas. Plan allocation for AYUSH has been doubled. As a part of the proposed National Rural Health Mission and the ongoing programmes, AYUSH services have been mainstreamed. Income-tax exemption was granted for Medical expenses of patients undergoing treatment in Ayurvedic hospitals. About 120 medical institutions of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy was extended support to improve their infrastructure. Integrated North Eastern Institute of ISM&H is planned to be set up at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh to ensure reach of AYUSH services in the North Eastern Areas. The State Drug Testing Laboratories and the State Pharmacies have been strengthened to ensure quality control of ISM&H medicines. The Medicinal Plant Board has been made functional in 32 States/UTs to coordinate the development of Medicinal Plant Sector and about 65000 Acre area has been covered under captive cultivation of medicinal plants. Permission has been granted for setting up of 14 new colleges of AYUSH systems including two National Institutes for Siddha and Unani Medicine.
Delhi Declaration
A Conclave entitled “Lives in the Balance” was held during April 7-9, 2005 at Delhi attended by distinguished representatives of various countries around the World. It led to Delhi Declaration that contains a global commitment to the Millennium Development Goals defining the way forward to preventing death of around seven million women and children per year mostly due to preventable causes.
The Delhi Declaration was formally presented to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, in the valedictory session held at Vigyan Bhavan on April 9, 2005.
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RK:LV
PIB SF-39 (15.5.2005)
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