Question : National Health Policy

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

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to increase the proportion of male sterilisation from the current 5 to 30 percent in accordance with the National Health Policy 2017, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to promote Reversible Inhibition of Sperm under Guidance (RISUG), a non-surgical vasectomy method and also plans to expand contraceptive options for men in the near future within the public health system, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to leverage male Multipurpose workers under Ayushman Bharat’s 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) by engaging the cadre to promote family planning; and

(d) if so, the details thereof including status of recruitment and capacity building of male MPWs?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a): Various initiatives are undertaken by the Government to increase the proportion of male sterilization, such as-
1) Observation of ‘Vasectomy Fortnight’ in the month of November every year all over the country to raise awareness on male participation and promotion of male sterilization.
2) Training of service providers in No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) to enhance the pool of service providers.
3) Four campaigns of extensive mobilization activities and assured vasectomy services each year in 146 Mission Parivar Vikas districts.
4) Increased compensation for male sterilization under the Enhanced compensation scheme for sterilization, and under Mission Parivar Vikas Scheme.
5) A holistic media campaign underlining the role of men in family planning to encourage men to adopt family planning methods.

(b): The Government does not have any such proposal at present.

(c) & (d): Yes, family planning is included in the curriculum for male Multipurpose Heath Workers.

As per RHS 2019, against sanctioned posts of 82857 male MPWs, 59348 are in position.