Question : QUALITY HEALTHCARE

(a) whether as per the Confederation of the Indian Industry and Indicus analytics report, life expectancy in India has increased by 50 per cent since 1960;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether as per the said report, India has made great strides in improving its infant Mortality Rate over the last decade;

(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the other main features of the report;

(e) whether the report also reveals that 36 per cent of women in the reproductive age group in India are undernourished; and

(f) if so, the steps proposed to be taken to implement the suggestion made in the report?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)

(a) & (b) As per the ‘India Health Report 2010’ brought out by ‘Indicus Analytics’ and released by Confederation of Indian Industry, the life expectancy in India increased from 42.3 years in 1960 to 64.7 years in 2007, i. e., an increase of about 53 percent during the period.

(c) & (d) As per the said report, India has made great strides in improving Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) as it has come down from 156.6 per 1000 live births in 1960 to 54.3 per 1000 live births in 2007. During 1990-2000 & 2000-2007, the IMR declined by 12 points & about 14 points respectively. The report has also discussed issues relating to health status, financial risk protection, equity etc.

(e) Using data of National Family Health Survey conducted during 2005-06, the report states that about 36% of women in the reproductive age group in India are undernourished with Body Mass Index less than 18.5.

(f) The Government has launched the National Rural Health Mission (2005-12) for providing integrated comprehensive Primary Healthcare Services, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of the Society throughout the country in order to bridge gaps in rural healthcare through increased community ownership, decentralization of the programmes to the district level, inter-sectoral convergence, increasing public spending on health and improved access to affordable, accountable and reliable primary health care services.

For bringing improvement in the nutritional level of population, National Nutrition Policy has been adopted in 1993 and a National Plan of Action for Nutrition (1995) is being implemented through various Departments of Government. Under the Reproductive and Child Health Programme, village health and nutrition days are being held, treatment to severe acute malnutrition cases is being provided at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres, micronutrient supplement of Vitamin A and Iron & Folic Acid among Children, pregnant and lactating women is being provided. Besides, several other programmes like National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme, Nutrition Education to increase the awareness and bring about desired changes in the dietary practices including the promotion of breast feeding and dietary diversification, Integrated Child Development Services Schemes, Mid Day Meal Programme etc. are being implemented in the country.