Question : Arthritis

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

(a) whether it is a fact that over 180 million people in India are affected by arthritis, if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for such large number of people affected by arthritis;

(b) whether many of the patients of arthritis are not able to get good treatment due to shortage of trained rheumatologists and the management of this disease done by untrained doctors and quacks;

(c) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Tripura and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) the number of rheumatologists working in different Government hospitals in the country;

(e) whether the Government proposes to include arthritis in the National Health Programme and provide financial assistance to such needy patients, if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the other measures being taken by the Government for facilitating affordable treatment of arthritis and other bone related diseases and also development of diagnostic and treatment technology for rheumatoid arthritis?

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

(a) to (f): Arthritis is a disease of joints (inflammation of joints) and different type of Arthritis include Osteo Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Infectious Arthritis and Gout.

The reasons of Arthritis include injury, abnormal metabolism leading to gout, genetic such as Osteo Arthritis, Infectious and Immune system disfunction. Ageing and unhealthy life style remain the major contributory factors. Public health and hospitals is a State subject. The Central Government, however, supplements the efforts of State Government. Information about number of people suffering from Arthritis and number of Rheumatologists working in different Government hospitals is not maintained centrally.


Arthritis is managed by orthopedics surgeon, general physician, rheumatologist etc. depending upon type of Arthritis. There is no specific national programme for prevention and control of Arthritis. However, the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) addresses the issue of Arthritis among elderly. Treatment in Government Hospitals including treatment for arthritis is free or subsidised. In addition, Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Deendayal outlets have been opened at more than 200 Institutions/Hospitals with an objective to make available drugs and implants at discounted prices to the patients. Jan Aushadhi stores are set up by Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide generic drugs at affordable prices. Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojna (PMJAY) provides for benefit coverage of Rs. 5,00,000/-to over more than 10 crore beneficiary families, giving cashless access to services in empanelled hospitals (both public and private) across India.