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Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
22-December, 2017 15:01 IST
No major impact on prices of Essential Drugs post introduction of GST
Government ensuring Essential drugs are available to public at reduced prices: Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya
Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today, informed that the Government has analyzed the impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on prices of the formulations and it is noticed that that there will be almost no impact on the prices of non-scheduled formulations which account for nearly 80% of the total pharmaceuticals sector.
In respect of Scheduled formulations, there is no impact on the prices of about 4% formulations, which mainly include formulations related to Immunization Program, Anti-cancer, Oral rehydration salts, Contraceptives etc. In most of the remaining formulations, which account for nearly 16% of total pharmaceutical sector, there is an increase in the prices to the extent of nearly 2.30%, the Minister informed.
Shri Mandaviya stated that the Government has fixed the ceiling prices of 851 formulations/ (packs) included in Revised Schedule - I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013). The details have been uploaded on National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)’s website www.nppaindia.nic.in. The slab-wise reduction in the prices under National List of Essential Medicines, 2015 (NLEM 2015) is as given below:
Slab-wise Percentage reduction
with respect to Maximum Price
No. of formulations
0<= 5%
234
5<=10%
134
10<=15%
98
15<=20%
98
20<=25%
93
25<=30%
65
30<=35%
46
35<=40%
24
Above 40%
59
Total formulations in NLEM 2015
851
Describing the measures taken to prevent overcharging of medicines, Shri Mandaviya stated that NPPA is effectively monitoring the prices of scheduled as well as non-scheduled medicines under DPCO, 2013 so that these formulations are available to public at ceiling prices notified and increase in price is limited to the provisions of DPCO, 2013. It takes action against companies found overcharging the consumers based on the references received from the State Drugs Controllers/ individuals, samples purchased from the open market, reports from market based data and complaints reported through the grievance redressal websites - ‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’ and ‘Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)’. The monitoring of increase in the price of formulations beyond the permissible limit is also done on the basis of market data submitted by All Indian Origin Chemists & Distributors Limited (AIOCD) (Pharma Trac Data) and individual complaints received, the Minister added.
Further, the production and availability of medicines is also regularly monitored by the NPPA mainly through Drugs Control Administration of State Governments. Whenever shortage is reported by the State Drug Controllers or when the matter comes to the notice of NPPA, remedial steps are taken for ensuring availability of drugs by impressing upon manufacturers to rush the stocks to the places of shortage, Shri Mandaviya informed.
*****
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
22-December, 2017 15:59 IST
Misleading Advertisements
Advertisements concerning drugs are regulated under the provisions of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 which is administered by the State Governments. Further, advertisements telecast on TV channels are required to adhere to the Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules framed thereunder. Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self regulatory body of advertisement industry, has set up Consumer Complaints Council to deal with advertising content and decide on complaints against advertisements making misleading, false and unsubstantiated claims. ASCI had informed the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting that some channels carried out some objectionable advertisements that made unsubstantiated claims and also violated provisions of Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. Accordingly, an advisory was issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting advising all TV channels not to telecast advertisements which were found to be violating provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994; ASCI Code and also Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
To undertake comprehensive monitoring of the quality of advertisements pertaining to Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs in print & TV media, the Ministry of AYUSH has signed an MoU with ASCI. Thereafter, ASCI has taken up suo-moto monitoring of the ASUSH drugs related advertisements and the defaulters are being advised to either modify or withdraw such advertisements. Those who do not comply with such advice are reported to the concerned State Licensing Authorities for taking action in accordance with the legal provisions of Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954 as well as Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made there under.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
*****
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
22-December, 2017 15:56 IST
Public Private Partnership Mode for Vector Borne Diseases
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) has been signed between Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP), and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Measures taken to check vector borne diseases are as below:
Malaria:
Govt has already prepared a framework for malaria elimination by 2030 and the National Strategic Plan (NSP), (2017-22) for five years has also been prepared and disseminated to States for implementation, wherein all measures for elimination of malaria have been specified. States and Regional Offices have been sensitized on the NSP and trained on the malaria elimination related activities for effective implementation of the laid down strategies
Dengue and Chikungunya:
*****
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
22-December, 2017 15:53 IST
Strengthening Healthcare Services Across the Country with Tele-Medicine System
The Government has taken various steps to strengthen the telemedicine network to provide healthcare services in the country. Health being a State subject, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is continuously providing support & assistance to States/UTs to facilitate the expansion of Telemedicine facility to improve healthcare services in remote areas as follows:
National Medical College Network (NMCN)-With the purpose of e-Education and e-Healthcare delivery, 50 Government Medical Colleges have been selected to interconnect, riding over NKN (National Knowledge Network – high speed bandwidth connectivity). For this purpose, one National Resource Centre (NRC) with required centralized infrastructure and 7 Regional Resource Centres (RRCs) have been established.
State Telemedicine Network (STN): The States/UTs have been supported under National Health Mission (NHM) under Program Implementation Plan (PIP) for strengthening State Telemedicine initiatives under STN & to create reliable, ubiquitous and high speed network backbone, all available and future network. So far ten states have been financially supported.
Tele-Medicine Nodes at Pilgrim places: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in collaboration with Department of Space has setup Telemedicine nodes for health awareness, screening of non-communicable disease (NCD) and for providing specialty consultation to the devotees visiting following places:
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
*****
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
22-December, 2017 15:50 IST
Action Plan and Measures taken to eliminate diseases
The target year set by the Government to eliminate following diseases are as under:-
Diseases Target Year of Elimination
1. Kala-azar: 2017
2. Leprosy: 2018
3. Measles: 2020
4. Tuberculosis: 2025
Kala-azar- Kala-azar is targeted for elimination by 2017 i.e. 1 case per 10,000 population at block level. As of 2016, 85% of the endemic blocks have achieved elimination target.
Leprosy:- Elimination of Leprosy i.e., 1 case/ 10000 population at national level was already achieved in the year 2005. The short term target is reduction of Grade II disability cases to less than one million population, as per WHO document on Global Leprosy Strategy, 2016 – 2020.
Measles:- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted the recommendation of Mission Steering Group for wide age group measles and rubella (MR) campaign covering children in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years followed by introduction of measles rubella vaccine in routine immunization to further reduce morbidity and mortality due to measles and rubella.
As on 18th December 2017, more than 6.5 crore children have been vaccinated with MR vaccine in 13 States/UTs, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttarakhand.
Tuberculosis As per the Global TB Report 2017, the incidence of TB has reduced from 217 per lakh per year in 2015 to 211 per lakh per year in 2016 and mortality has reduced from 36 per lakh per year in 2015 to 32 per lakh per year in 2016.
Kala-azar:-
· Intensification of surveillance activities for early identification of cases & prompt treatment.
· Active case searches in all endemic villages.
· Intensified IEC/BCC activities
· IRS spray with Synthetic Pyrethroid on regular basis and focal spray as per guideline.
· Hand Compression Pumps for quality spray introduced in 2015 in Kala-azar districts of endemic States.
· Treatment with single day single dose Ambisome Injection to Kala-azar patient.
· Incentive to patients for loss of wages.
· Incentive to ASHAs.
· The States fill up the vacant positions.
Leprosy:-
(i) implementation of routine activities and all innovations introduced during 2016-17 viz. three pronged strategy for early case detection i.e., i) Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) (specific for high endemic districts), ii) Focussed Leprosy Campaign (for hot spots i.e., rural and urban areas where Grade II disability is detected), iii) Special plan for hard to reach areas.
(ii) Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign for awareness, Grade II disability case investigation,
(iii) Post Exposure chemoprophylaxis administration to the contacts of cases detected in LCDC districts etc.
(iv) ASHA based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects (ABSULS) has been introduced during 2017-18 to enhance early case reporting.
Measels:-
The following measures have been taken to achieve the target of measles elimination by 2020:
· Government of India introduced measles vaccine across the country in 1985 under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). To further reduce the measles burden, a second dose of measles vaccine was introduced in the country in the year 2010.
· With an aim to increase the full immunization coverage to 90% by December 2018 including improving measles vaccine coverage particularly in pockets with low immunization coverage, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush on 8th October 2017. The Intensified Mission Indradhanush is being carried out in 173 districts and 17 urban areas across 24 states of the country and three rounds (Oct, Nov and Dec) have been completed since the launch.
· An India Expert Advisory Group on Measles & Rubella (IEAG-MR) has been established, comprising national and international experts, to provide technical guidance on the disease elimination efforts from time to time. The group has met twice since its formulation.
Tuberculosis:
The National Strategic Plan (NSP) for elimination of Tuberculosis (2017-25) has been formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
In addition to the existing strategies under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), the NSP focusses on:
· early diagnosis of all the TB patients, prompt treatment with quality assured drugs and treatment regimens
· suitable patient support systems to promote adherence.
· engaging with the patients seeking care in the private sector.
· prevention strategies including active case finding and
· contact tracing in high risk / vulnerable population
· airborne infection control.
Under the National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to the States/UTs to strengthen their health-care system based on the requirements posed by the States/UTs in their Program Implementation Plans. Vacancies in the State are filled by respective State/District Health Societies under NHM. Regular follow up is done with the States to ensure that the vacant positions are filled up.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
*****
22-December, 2017 15:01 IST
No major impact on prices of Essential Drugs post introduction of GST
Government ensuring Essential drugs are available to public at reduced prices: Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya
Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today, informed that the Government has analyzed the impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on prices of the formulations and it is noticed that that there will be almost no impact on the prices of non-scheduled formulations which account for nearly 80% of the total pharmaceuticals sector.
In respect of Scheduled formulations, there is no impact on the prices of about 4% formulations, which mainly include formulations related to Immunization Program, Anti-cancer, Oral rehydration salts, Contraceptives etc. In most of the remaining formulations, which account for nearly 16% of total pharmaceutical sector, there is an increase in the prices to the extent of nearly 2.30%, the Minister informed.
Shri Mandaviya stated that the Government has fixed the ceiling prices of 851 formulations/ (packs) included in Revised Schedule - I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013). The details have been uploaded on National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)’s website www.nppaindia.nic.in. The slab-wise reduction in the prices under National List of Essential Medicines, 2015 (NLEM 2015) is as given below:
Slab-wise Percentage reduction
with respect to Maximum Price
No. of formulations
0<= 5%
234
5<=10%
134
10<=15%
98
15<=20%
98
20<=25%
93
25<=30%
65
30<=35%
46
35<=40%
24
Above 40%
59
Total formulations in NLEM 2015
851
Describing the measures taken to prevent overcharging of medicines, Shri Mandaviya stated that NPPA is effectively monitoring the prices of scheduled as well as non-scheduled medicines under DPCO, 2013 so that these formulations are available to public at ceiling prices notified and increase in price is limited to the provisions of DPCO, 2013. It takes action against companies found overcharging the consumers based on the references received from the State Drugs Controllers/ individuals, samples purchased from the open market, reports from market based data and complaints reported through the grievance redressal websites - ‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’ and ‘Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)’. The monitoring of increase in the price of formulations beyond the permissible limit is also done on the basis of market data submitted by All Indian Origin Chemists & Distributors Limited (AIOCD) (Pharma Trac Data) and individual complaints received, the Minister added.
Further, the production and availability of medicines is also regularly monitored by the NPPA mainly through Drugs Control Administration of State Governments. Whenever shortage is reported by the State Drug Controllers or when the matter comes to the notice of NPPA, remedial steps are taken for ensuring availability of drugs by impressing upon manufacturers to rush the stocks to the places of shortage, Shri Mandaviya informed.
*****
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
22-December, 2017 15:59 IST
Misleading Advertisements
Advertisements concerning drugs are regulated under the provisions of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 which is administered by the State Governments. Further, advertisements telecast on TV channels are required to adhere to the Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules framed thereunder. Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self regulatory body of advertisement industry, has set up Consumer Complaints Council to deal with advertising content and decide on complaints against advertisements making misleading, false and unsubstantiated claims. ASCI had informed the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting that some channels carried out some objectionable advertisements that made unsubstantiated claims and also violated provisions of Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. Accordingly, an advisory was issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting advising all TV channels not to telecast advertisements which were found to be violating provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994; ASCI Code and also Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
To undertake comprehensive monitoring of the quality of advertisements pertaining to Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs in print & TV media, the Ministry of AYUSH has signed an MoU with ASCI. Thereafter, ASCI has taken up suo-moto monitoring of the ASUSH drugs related advertisements and the defaulters are being advised to either modify or withdraw such advertisements. Those who do not comply with such advice are reported to the concerned State Licensing Authorities for taking action in accordance with the legal provisions of Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954 as well as Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made there under.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
*****
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
22-December, 2017 15:56 IST
Public Private Partnership Mode for Vector Borne Diseases
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) has been signed between Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP), and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Measures taken to check vector borne diseases are as below:
Malaria:
Govt has already prepared a framework for malaria elimination by 2030 and the National Strategic Plan (NSP), (2017-22) for five years has also been prepared and disseminated to States for implementation, wherein all measures for elimination of malaria have been specified. States and Regional Offices have been sensitized on the NSP and trained on the malaria elimination related activities for effective implementation of the laid down strategies
Dengue and Chikungunya:
- GOI provides Technical Guidelines for prevention and control, case management & effective community participation to the States for its implementation. All these Guidelines are uploaded on National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) website nvbdcp.gov.in.
- Periodic reviews were undertaken at the higher level and advisories issued from time to time. During 2017 (till date), 12 review meetings, 2 video-conferences were held and 18 advisories were issued.
- States were requested to make Dengue a notifiable disease.
- Diagnosis is provided through 609 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (SSHs) and 16 Apex Referral laboratories (ARLs) identified across the country.
- Kit Supply: In 2017 (till Nov), GoI has supplied 7371 Dengue IgM kits and 2075 Chikungunya IgM kits (1 kit =96 tests) across the country through National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.
- Four Regional Training Workshops on Dengue & Chikungunya case management organized at Lucknow (12-14 June), Delhi (27-28 June), Kolkata (28-29 July) & Bengaluru (7-8 Sept) 2017.
- Sensitization of corporators of three Delhi Municipal Corporations on Dengue and other Vector Borne Diseases (VBDs).
- Central Teams visit to the States- Kerala (January, June & July), Karnataka (August), Gujarat (January), West Bengal January), Puducherry (October), Tamil Nadu (October) and Andhra Pradesh (October).
- Focused IEC/BCC activities are carried out at National and State level.
- National Dengue Day was observed on 16th May across the country.
- Community awareness through Health Melas, print and electronic media.
- Funds are provided by Govt. of India to the States for prevention and control of vector borne diseases including Dengue and Chikungunya to implement the public health activities.
- Constitution of National Programme for Prevention and Control of JE/AES to reduce morbidity, mortality and disability due to JE/AES.
- Number of Sentinel sites has been increased from 51 in 2005 to 131 at present
- Apex Referral Laboratories increased from 12 to 15.
- JE vaccination campaign in children (1-15 yrs) completed in 216 out of 231 JE endemic districts. JE vaccination campaign planned in 15 districts in 2017-18.
- Strengthening of Capacity building.
- Adult vaccination Completed in all 31 districts identified in Assam, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
- Establishment of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in priority districts.
- Establishment of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation (PMR) identified Medical Colleges.
- Notification of JE: State have been requested to notify Japanese Encephalitis
- Treatment with single day single dose Ambisome Injection to Kala-azar patient since 2015 which has improved treatment compliance with loss of wages incentives.
- Use of Synthetic Pyrethorid insecticide and Hand Compression Pumps
- No stock out of drugs and diagnostics is ensured.
- Intensification of surveillance activities for early idenfication of cases & prompt treatment.
- Active case searches in all endemic villages
- Intensified IEC/BCC activities
- Two rounds of regular IRS spray with Synthetic Pyrethroid on regular basis and focal spray as per guideline.
- Incentive to health volunteer/ASHA @ Rs.300/- for referring a suspected case and ensuring complete treatment and Rs. 100/- during one round of indoor residual spray i.e. Rs. 200/- for both the rounds of spray for generating awareness and for acceptance of spray by the community.
- Govt of Bihar & Jharkhand State has provisioned Rs.6,600/- as wage loss to Kala-azar patients from Chief Ministers Kala-azar Relief Elimination Funds.
- The Kala-azar elimination programme is being reviewed regularly at highest level.
- Operational guideline is available in NVBDCP website.
- Periodic review meetings and video conferencing with the endemic States.
- Advisories issued to maximize elimination efforts.
- Provision of morbidity management kits.
- Package of fund for Hydrocele operation to clear back log of hydrocele cases.
*****
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
22-December, 2017 15:53 IST
Strengthening Healthcare Services Across the Country with Tele-Medicine System
The Government has taken various steps to strengthen the telemedicine network to provide healthcare services in the country. Health being a State subject, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is continuously providing support & assistance to States/UTs to facilitate the expansion of Telemedicine facility to improve healthcare services in remote areas as follows:
National Medical College Network (NMCN)-With the purpose of e-Education and e-Healthcare delivery, 50 Government Medical Colleges have been selected to interconnect, riding over NKN (National Knowledge Network – high speed bandwidth connectivity). For this purpose, one National Resource Centre (NRC) with required centralized infrastructure and 7 Regional Resource Centres (RRCs) have been established.
State Telemedicine Network (STN): The States/UTs have been supported under National Health Mission (NHM) under Program Implementation Plan (PIP) for strengthening State Telemedicine initiatives under STN & to create reliable, ubiquitous and high speed network backbone, all available and future network. So far ten states have been financially supported.
Tele-Medicine Nodes at Pilgrim places: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in collaboration with Department of Space has setup Telemedicine nodes for health awareness, screening of non-communicable disease (NCD) and for providing specialty consultation to the devotees visiting following places:
- Maa Vindhyavasini Mandir, Vindhyachal Dham, Mirzapur (UP)
- Sheshnag, Amarnath Pilgrimage (J&K)
- Pampa Hospital, Ayyappa Temple at Sabrimala in Kerala
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
*****
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
22-December, 2017 15:50 IST
Action Plan and Measures taken to eliminate diseases
The target year set by the Government to eliminate following diseases are as under:-
Diseases Target Year of Elimination
1. Kala-azar: 2017
2. Leprosy: 2018
3. Measles: 2020
4. Tuberculosis: 2025
Kala-azar- Kala-azar is targeted for elimination by 2017 i.e. 1 case per 10,000 population at block level. As of 2016, 85% of the endemic blocks have achieved elimination target.
Leprosy:- Elimination of Leprosy i.e., 1 case/ 10000 population at national level was already achieved in the year 2005. The short term target is reduction of Grade II disability cases to less than one million population, as per WHO document on Global Leprosy Strategy, 2016 – 2020.
Measles:- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted the recommendation of Mission Steering Group for wide age group measles and rubella (MR) campaign covering children in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years followed by introduction of measles rubella vaccine in routine immunization to further reduce morbidity and mortality due to measles and rubella.
As on 18th December 2017, more than 6.5 crore children have been vaccinated with MR vaccine in 13 States/UTs, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttarakhand.
Tuberculosis As per the Global TB Report 2017, the incidence of TB has reduced from 217 per lakh per year in 2015 to 211 per lakh per year in 2016 and mortality has reduced from 36 per lakh per year in 2015 to 32 per lakh per year in 2016.
Kala-azar:-
· Intensification of surveillance activities for early identification of cases & prompt treatment.
· Active case searches in all endemic villages.
· Intensified IEC/BCC activities
· IRS spray with Synthetic Pyrethroid on regular basis and focal spray as per guideline.
· Hand Compression Pumps for quality spray introduced in 2015 in Kala-azar districts of endemic States.
· Treatment with single day single dose Ambisome Injection to Kala-azar patient.
· Incentive to patients for loss of wages.
· Incentive to ASHAs.
· The States fill up the vacant positions.
Leprosy:-
(i) implementation of routine activities and all innovations introduced during 2016-17 viz. three pronged strategy for early case detection i.e., i) Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) (specific for high endemic districts), ii) Focussed Leprosy Campaign (for hot spots i.e., rural and urban areas where Grade II disability is detected), iii) Special plan for hard to reach areas.
(ii) Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign for awareness, Grade II disability case investigation,
(iii) Post Exposure chemoprophylaxis administration to the contacts of cases detected in LCDC districts etc.
(iv) ASHA based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects (ABSULS) has been introduced during 2017-18 to enhance early case reporting.
Measels:-
The following measures have been taken to achieve the target of measles elimination by 2020:
· Government of India introduced measles vaccine across the country in 1985 under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). To further reduce the measles burden, a second dose of measles vaccine was introduced in the country in the year 2010.
· With an aim to increase the full immunization coverage to 90% by December 2018 including improving measles vaccine coverage particularly in pockets with low immunization coverage, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush on 8th October 2017. The Intensified Mission Indradhanush is being carried out in 173 districts and 17 urban areas across 24 states of the country and three rounds (Oct, Nov and Dec) have been completed since the launch.
· An India Expert Advisory Group on Measles & Rubella (IEAG-MR) has been established, comprising national and international experts, to provide technical guidance on the disease elimination efforts from time to time. The group has met twice since its formulation.
Tuberculosis:
The National Strategic Plan (NSP) for elimination of Tuberculosis (2017-25) has been formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
In addition to the existing strategies under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), the NSP focusses on:
· early diagnosis of all the TB patients, prompt treatment with quality assured drugs and treatment regimens
· suitable patient support systems to promote adherence.
· engaging with the patients seeking care in the private sector.
· prevention strategies including active case finding and
· contact tracing in high risk / vulnerable population
· airborne infection control.
Under the National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to the States/UTs to strengthen their health-care system based on the requirements posed by the States/UTs in their Program Implementation Plans. Vacancies in the State are filled by respective State/District Health Societies under NHM. Regular follow up is done with the States to ensure that the vacant positions are filled up.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
*****