ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a): Yes. WHO has released a list of the following 13 global health challenges for the next decade on 13.01.2020:
1) Elevating health in the Climate debate
2) Delivering health in conflict and crisis
3) Making healthcare fairer
4) Expanding access to medicines
5) Stopping infectious diseases
6) Preparing for epidemics
7) Protecting people from dangerous products
8) Investing in the people who defend our health
9) Keeping adolescents safe
10) Earning public trust
11) Harnessing new technologies
12) Protecting the medicines that protect us
13) Keeping health care clean
The details are available on WHO’s website at https://www.who.int/news-room/photo-story/photo-story-detail/urgent-health-challenges-for-the-next-decade.
(b): The Government has created a conducive regulatory environment through appropriate amendments in the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1945 including notification of New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019 in the country to give an impetus to innovation and Research & Development in the area of new drugs including antibiotics, which is also likely to result in further investment in pharmaceuticals.
(c): The Government of India has introduced the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on 2nd October, 2014 to promote cleanliness in public space. Ministry of health and Family Welfare has launched a national initiative “KAYAKALP” on 15th May, 2015 to promote cleanliness and enhance the quality of public health facilities under which the Swachhta guidelines have been issued for health facilities.
As part of the Ayushman Bharat, the Government is supporting the States for strengthening Sub Health Centers and Primary Health Centers to be transformed as Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs) for provision of comprehensive primary health care that includes preventions healthcare and health promotion including interventions for hygiene, at the community level with continuum of care approach.
Services at Aushman Bharat- Health & Wellness Centers Services (AB-HWCs) are free and universal to all individuals residing in the service area.
Under AB-HWCS, Compressive Primary Healthcare is being provided to include, preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services. Services like Population based enumeration of persons above 30 years of age and screening of individuals prioritizing high risk cases for Non Communicable Disease-Hypertension, Diabetes and three common cancers (oral, cervix and breast) along with communicable diseases like TB and leprosy has been initiated at these AB-HBCs.
Health promotion and wellness activities like Yoga and other physical activities are being provided, apart from services already being provided for Maternal and Child Health including immunization and communicable diseases. The four areas of Fit India – Physical activity, healthy eating, environmentally friendly & sustainable lifestyle and preventive health are integral part of wellness activities being propagated through the functional AB-HWCs.
(d): For the FY 2019-20, Rs.1600 crore has been allocated under Ayushman Bharat- Health & Wellness Centers Services (AB-HWCs).
(e): Some of the other steps being taken by the Government to create the awareness for keeping healthcare and hygiene in basic health services across the country are as follows:-
i) Organising Swachchhta Pakhwada in hospitals and offices;
ii) Provisioning of adequate water in health facilities;
iii) Conducting workshops for healthcare workers;
iv) Regular in-house training and induction programme for various cadres in hospitals;
v) Dustbins are installed at required places;
vi) Mechanized cleaning has been increased;
vii) Condemned articles are removed at regular interval;
viii) Training of hospital staff for biomedical waste management, hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective measures.
ix) Sensitization of patients and visitors to the hospitals regarding waste disposal, hand hygiene and use of safe drinking water, etc.;
x) IEC activities such as workshops/ seminars/ trainings/ nukad nataks are conducted regularly to spread awareness for health and hygiene among the people under Kaya-Kalp Programme;
xi) Promotion of “NO USE OF PLASTICS”;
In addition to the above steps being taken, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in January 2020, has also released the National Guidelines on Implementation of Infection Prevention and Control, which also include the importance of hand-hygiene in prevention of infection in healthcare facilities. These guidelines are being disseminated widely and training resources are being developed for training of trainers in the states.
………………..
Download PDF Files
