Strengthening of Drug Regulatory System in the Country

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal for strengthening the drug regulatory system both at the Central and the State levels at a total cost of Rs.1750 crore. The strengthening / up-gradation of the system will be spread over a period of three years. Out of the total amount of Rs 1750 crore, an amount of Rs.900 crore will be spent on strengthening central structures and Rs.850 crore will be made available to the State Governments, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

The up-gradation will include provision of additional equipment and manpower in existing drug testing laboratories; setting up of new laboratories for testing drugs, medical devices and cosmetics; making mobile drug testing laboratories available; creation of additional manpower for regulatory structures, including for new and emerging areas such as stem cell, regenerative medicine, biologicals and medical devices in addition to drugs. The upgradation will also introduce organisation wide e-Governance and Information Technology enabled/ online services, and setting up a training academy for regulatory and drug testing officials, of both the Central and State Governments.

Assistance will be provided to the States for strengthening their drug regulatory structures. The

Achievements under Immunization Programme

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The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) has been operational in India since 1985. However, the coverage has increased by only 4% in the last 4 years i.e. at the rate of 1% per year. The Government of India launched “Mission Indradhanush” on 25 December 2014 as a special drive to expand full immunization coverage in India from 65% in 2014 to at least 90% children in the next five years.

Under “Mission Indradhanush”, 75.5 lakh children were vaccinated and a total of 19.7 lakh children were fully vaccinated. In addition, a total of 20.8 lakh pregnant women were vaccinated for tetanus toxoid.

Since the launch of UIP in 1985, infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate due to vaccine preventable diseases has decreased considerably. India’s infant mortality rate has declined from 80 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 40 per 1,000 live births in 2013 and under-five mortality rate from 126 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 49 per 1,000 live births in 2013. This has been possible due to child health interventions including immunization.

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

Plan for teaching and training in AYUSH Systems of Medicine

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The policy, implementation and future plan of action of Central Government to make each of indigenous Ayurveda systems of medicine under Ayush more acceptable and extended in terms of teachings, training and treatment through National AYUSH Mission (NAM) and some of the Central Sector Schemes are as follows:

(i)National AYUSH Mission (NAM)
Government of India has approved and notified National AYUSH Mission (NAM) on 29.09.2014 with the components of AYUSH services, AYUSH Educational Institutions, Quality Control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs and Medicinal Plants in the States/UTs during 12th Plan. State/UT wise resource pool has been allocated for implementing various activities under NAM. State/UT Governments are eligible to submit the proposals through State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) as per the guidelines of NAM.

In order to make each of indigenous Ayurveda systems of medicine under AYUSH more acceptable  in terms of quality safety and efficacy of AYUSH drugs the current proposal is to have a vertical structure for AYUSH in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Government has initiated procedural steps required for setting up the vertical structure of AYUSH in the CDSCO.

(ii)Other relevant Central Sector Schemes

1. Under the Central Sector Scheme for

Schemes Under Ayush

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Government of India has made provision for setting up of AYUSH Gram under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM), wherein one village per block is selected for adoption of method and practice of AYUSH way of life and interventions of health care. In AYUSH village AYUSH based lifestyles are promoted through behavioural change communication, training of village health workers towards identification and use of local medicinal herbs and provision of AYUSH health services. The Grant-in aid of Rs.215.15 Lakhs has been provided to the State/UT Governments during 2014-15 for setting up of AYUSH Gram under National AYUSH Mission (NAM).

The Government of India has approved and notified National AYUSH Mission (NAM) on 29.09.2014 which envisages better access to AYUSH services, strengthening of AYUSH educational institutions, facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU &H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU & H raw-materials in the States/UTs during 12th Plan.

The National AYUSH Mission (NAM)  makes provision for the following:-

(i) Co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).

(ii) Up gradation of exclusive State Government AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries.

(iii) Setting up of

Initiatives to Overcome Shortage of Doctors

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The Government has taken the following steps in order to meet the shortage of doctors in the country:

I. The ratio of teachers to students has been revised from 1:1 to 1:2 for all MD/MS disciplines and 1:1 to 1:3 in subjects of Anaesthesiology, Forensic Medicine, Radiotherapy, Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology.
II. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
III.Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.
IV. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/extension/re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges from 65-70 years.
V. Relaxation in the norms for setting up of a medical college in terms of requirement for land, faculty, staff, bed/bed strength and other infrastructure.
VI. Strengthening/upgradation of State Government Medical Colleges for starting new PG courses/Increase of PG seats with fund sharing between the Central and State Government in the ratio of 75:25.
VII. Establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals preferably in underserved districts of the country with fund sharing between the Central Government and States in the ratio of 90:10 for North-East/special category states and 75:25 for other states.
VIII. Strengthening/upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government

President of India to inaugurate AYUSH wellness clinic at President’s Estate

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The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate a new AYUSH Wellness Clinic in the President’s Estate on July 25, 2015 to mark the completion of the third year of Presidency.

The Government of India has outlined a national policy on Indian systems of medicine & homeopathy with a view to giving impetus to the centuries-old heritage of medical sciences in India. Keeping in view the emphasis laid by the Government to this holistic method of healing and therapy, Rashtrapati Bhavan has established an AYUSH Wellness Clinic (AWC) in the President’s Estate. The Clinic will cater to the medical needs of the President, officials of President’s Secretariat and residents of the President’s Estate.

A dilapidated building in the President’s Estate has been renovated and converted into the AWC. The work of renovation was started on March 30, 2015 and completed on July 24, 2015. The AWC will have treatment facilities in the streams of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy under one roof with the assistance of the Ministry of AYUSH.