(a) whether the Government proposes to appoint public health experts in the rural areas in the
States for effective implementation of various healthcare schemes;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the benefits likely to accrue as a result thereof;and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)
(a) to (c): Yes Sir.Under the National Rural Health Mission, capacity building of Health system
for programme planning, implementation and monitoring has been undertaken at all levels.Towards
this goal,NRHM has supported provisioning of key skills in all programmes at all levels.This
support is provided as per felt needs which are included by the states in their Annual Programme
Implementation Plan (PIP). Public health experts have also been positioned as part of this
initiative. These experts assist the blocks and districts in undertaking resource mapping,
identification of critical gaps and preparation of decentralized plans for compensating the gaps
and addressing the epidemiology of respective district or state. They also handhold implementation
of various strategies and monitoring of outcomes. Support for training in public health management
is also being extended under NRHM.
The programme Management Units under NRHM,which comprise management,accounts,IT and health experts
have enhanced the capacity of districts and blocks to implement various programme interventions
which constitute NRHM.Many states have also positioned architects for better management of public
health infrastructure,Human Resource Managers to manage the Public health cadres and experts from
Medical Colleges to assist in monitoring and evaluation of pogrammes. These skills have
substantially improved the implementation of programmes and accelerated the achievement of goals
of NRHM.