Not for Publication For Members only

LOK SABHA ___

SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 / Phalguna 26, 1942 (Saka) ______

OBITUARY REFERENCES HON’BLE SPEAKER: Hon. Members, with profound grief, I have to inform the House about the passing away of our colleague, Shri Ram Swaroop Sharma and one former colleague, Shri Manohar Lal Saini. Shri Ram Swaroop Sharma was a sitting Member and also a Member of the 16th Lok Sabha representing the Mandi Parliamentary Constituency of Himachal Pradesh. An able Parliamentarian, Shri Sharma was a member of Committee on External Affairs. Shri Ram Swaroop Sharma passed away on 17th March, 2021 in New Delhi at the age of 62 years. Shri Manohar Lal Saini was a Member of the 6th and 7th Lok Sabha representing Mahendragarh and Kurukshetra Parliamentary Constituencies of Haryana respectively. Shri Manohar Lal Saini passed away on 8th March, 2021 in New Delhi at the age of 81 years. We deeply mourn the loss of our colleague and the former colleague and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to their bereaved families. The Members then stood in silence for a short while. _____ STATEMENT BY MINISTER Re: ’s Vaccine Maitri Initiative

THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR): I rise to apprise this august House of the progress we have made in taking forward the Vaccine Maitri initiative. Before I share the details of the initiative itself, I seek the indulgence of the House to explain the thinking behind it. As Indians, we are all naturally internationalist by virtue of our culture, traditions, heritage and history. We have never seen a contradiction between this internationalism and the nationalism that was the driver of our independence struggle and subsequent endeavours at nation building. Indeed, this experience of the freedom movement has even further reinforced our internationalism, by creating a strong solidarity with other nations who similarly struggled for their freedom. In recent years, as democracy struck deeper roots, we have found our own cultural expressions and identities that define us in a diverse world. In fact, drawing from our heritage, we have become even stronger voices for international cooperation and solidarity. That, of course, is most in demand at times of global stress, such as the COVID pandemic. Many of us may share these sentiments and beliefs. The challenge of policy making is to give that a practical shape. In the case of our Government, Prime Minister Modi’s vision has provided an over-arching framework to make our goodwill meaningful in terms of practical initiatives and activities. We already saw that in our humanitarian assistance and disaster responses, whether in Yemen and or Mozambique and . As a result, in the last few years, India has developed a reputation of being the first and reliable responder in the region. We saw that too in critical negotiations of global importance like the Paris Agreement, where we had a key bridging role or indeed in the International Solar Alliance or the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, two notable initiatives envisioned by the Prime Minister. When it came to Africa, we raised the level of our cooperation very substantially at the IAFS-3 Summit in 2015. Our projects, training and presence has today spread widely across that continent. From the Caribbean to the Pacific Islands, the message has been clear that the not only has the willingness to engage them personally, but to back that up with concrete development programmes. It is this outlook of human-centric global cooperation that is the driving force of Vaccine Maitri. Even as the COVID pandemic was in full fury, there were already global demands of our pharmaceutical and medical capabilities. If we could meet them, it was largely due to the extraordinary ramp up of our COVID-related capabilities with which the House is familiar. We are all cognizant of the low fatality rates and the high recovery rates that result from the Prime Minister’s leadership and the Government’s focused. But there was an external beneficial impact of our capabilities as well. India could meet the spiking requirements of hydroxychloroquine, paracetamol and other relevant drugs across the world. In fact, we supplied 150 nations with medicines, 82 of them as grants by India. As our production of masks, PPEs and diagnostic kits grew, we madethem available to other nations as well. This generous approach, so characteristic of our culture, was also extended to the Vande Bharat Mission Starting from Wuhan, we brought back nationals of other countries while looking after our own. The House would, therefore, appreciate that as we contemplated the prospect of vaccination against Covid-19, a similar approach was natural. Our domestic vaccination programme started in January 2021 and within a few days, we also started assisting our immediate neighbours. The basis for doing so was the assurance that Prime Minister gave in his virtual address to the UN General Assembly in September 2020. On that occasion, he declared that India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis. We also offered to enhance cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of vaccines. This approach is not only in keeping with our age-old tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, as I have noted earlier. It is also the contemporary outlook of this Government to utilize India's growing capacities for the benefit of humankind. As a prominent nation in an increasingly multi-polar world, the international community has greater expectations of us. We, in turn, are prepared to demonstrate our willingness to shoulder greater responsibilities. From the very beginning, India has always believed that the pandemic threatens the entire humanity and that the rightful response would be a collective one. Accordingly, evenas early as 15 March 2020, Prime Minister took the initiative to hold a meeting of SAARC Heads of Government to fashion a regional solution. An important outcome was the creation of the SAARC COVID-19 Fund that supported the early exchanges on this issue within the region. We then held workshops and training courses to strengthen capacities for handling vaccines and other aspects of public health andCOVD- 19 management. Most recently, that was followed up by a meeting of senior health officials of the region on 18 February 2021. They shared the outcome of their deliberations with Prime Minister, who urged a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses, coordinating a regional air ambulance agreement, a platform for studying data on the effectiveness of vaccines and a network for technology assisted epidemiology for preventing future pandemics. Our efforts, of course, went well beyond the neighbourhood when it came to online training and capability building. The Ministry of External Affairs organized 14 e-ITEC courses in partnership with premier institutions like AIIMS and PGI Chandigarh. There was even an exclusive one conducted in Bangla for Bangladeshi professionals. And one by Armed Forces Medical Services for the military doctors in South-east Asia. These 14 courses had a total of 1131 professional participants from 47 countries. In planning and executing Vaccine Maitri, we are naturally guided by a determination to make a difference at a difficult moment for global society. Our reputation as the "Pharmacy of the World' has been reinforced in that process. So indeed has the faith in ‘Make in India'. But more than thevaccines themselves, our policies and conduct have emergedas a source of strength for the stressed and vulnerable nations of the world. They can see that there is at least one major nation that truly believes in making vaccines accessible and affordable to others in dire need. The House should be aware that the supply of vaccines abroad is based on the assessment of adequate availability at home. This is continuously monitored and takes into account the requirements of our domestic vaccination programme as it unfolds in different phases. An empowered Committee oversees this entire process. Quite appropriately, Vaccine Maitri began in the immediate neighbourhood, starting with the , , , Nepal, and , as also and . The extended neighbourhood followed thereafter, especially the Gulf. Supplying smaller and more vulnerable nations was then the logic of reaching out to regions from Africa to the CARICOM. There are also contracts that our producers have entered into with other nations, either bilaterally or through the Covax initiative. To date, we have supplied "Made in India' vaccines to 72 nations across geographies. The House should recognize the enormous feeling for India that our initiative has generated. Those sentiments have naturally been expressed by leaders and prominent personalities of many nations. But more than that, our Ambassadors feel every day the warmth of ordinary people across the world for India. In the trust sense, this has been people-centric diplomacy at work. The world sees not just of the selfless outlook of India but also of the quality of our products and capabilities. The Covid pandemic has been a test of fire for all of us. But I can confidently state that even in the midst of a global crisis, the Prime Minister’ initiative of such deep friendship has raised India’s standing and generated great international goodwill. ______

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

1. SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT laid a statement regarding flouting of pollution control norms by Indian Oil Corporation Limited Refinery, Panipat, Haryana. 2. SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY laid a statement regarding need to construct a RuB/Underpass/RoB at level crossing No. 18C between Kaptanganj and Khushhal Nagar in Maharajganj Parliamentary Constituency, Uttar Pradesh. 3. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL laid a statement regarding need to develop a waterway on Saryu river between Manjhi in Bihar and Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. 4. SHRI MANOJ KOTAK laid a statement regarding redevelopment of residential colonies falling under funnel zone near Mumbai Airport. 5. SHRI RAJU BISTA laid a statement regarding Coronation Bridge over Teesta River. 6. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE laid a statement regarding inclusion of all Gurjar Caste and Sub Caste in Central OBC List in Raver Parliamentary Constituency, Maharashtra.

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Chair. 7. SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY laid a statement regarding need for doubling of Phulera-Rewari railway section. 8. DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI laid a statement regarding patients suffering from Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSD). 9. DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to set up Mineral based industry in Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh.

10. SHRI DEVAJI PATEL laid a statement regarding extension of under-construction overbridge between railway platforms in Swaroopnagar in Sirohi district, Rajasthan. 11. DR. MANOJ RAJORIA laid a statement regarding Chambal- Panchana-Jagar lift project for drinking and irrigation purpose in Karauli Parliamentary Constituency, Rajasthan. 12. SHRI VINCENT H. PALA laid a statement regarding inclusion of Khasi language in 8th Schedule to the Constitution. 13. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY laid a statement regarding problems of bank retirees. 14. SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE laid a statement regarding need to frame stringent laws and set up fast track courts to curb crimes against women. 15. SHRI KAUSHLENDRA KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to set up an International Airport at Rajgir in Nalanda Parliamentary Constituency, Bihar. 16. DR. G. RANJITH REDDY laid a statement regarding creation of districts in Telangana. ______

THE UNION BUDGET 2021-22 DEMANDS FOR GRANTS 2021-22 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare SHRI MANISH TEWARI initiating said: This discussion is taking place at a point of time when the world is being engulfed by the second wave of Corona Virus infection. World Health Organization is currently chaired by India. The Minister of Health of India is the Chair of the World Health Organization. I think this is extremely serious matter and I would like to urge the hon. Health Minister to ensure the investigation about the origin and proliferation of the Covid-19. As per the data of the Government there are about 3 crore 48 lakh people have been vaccinated till date. Those people whose vaccination is complete and got their second dose, their number is 61.68 lakh. It means that out of 130 crore population of India, only 0.047 per cent population have been vaccinated. Standing Committee of Home Affairs have raised concern that there are so many people who have not got their second dose of vaccine. It means that their first dose of vaccine is useless. Today, is going on. On the one side, people here are not able to get vaccine and on the other side 5 crore 74 lakh doses of vaccine is being exported. It were the same dates during last year when Corona Virus pandemic was on a rise. One question can be asked as to what was the need of this comprehensive lockdown? Whether micro containment strategy should not have been adopted? Although, we have Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 but now it is right time to bring a comprehensive legislation to deal with such circumstances. This is absolutely true that our doctors and frontline workers have done their job wholeheartedly and they must be appreciated for this. But during that period we have also noticed that private sector hospitals have overcharged from Covid-19 patients. Even today, the 70 per cent population of this country still depends on private healthcare providers. Therefore, there is also a need to regulate private healthcare in the country. There is also a need to strengthen healthcare infrastructure of India. At the end, I just want to say that pandemic have made us learn to co-exist with nature. SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ' LALAN' : This Government has done a tremendous job in health sector during the last seven years. Today, a provision of about Rs.223846 crore have been made in this budget which is 137 per cent more in comparison to the last year. The Swasth Bharat Scheme aims to make the people of the country healthy. If the people are not healthy, the country will also be not healthy and we cannot make India self-reliant if the country will not be healthy. Corona is a worldwide pandemic. The first case was detected on 30th January, 2020 and from that day the Union Government as well as the Ministry of Health monitored the situation continuously and coordinated with the entire world. The Prime Minister held discussions with all the stakeholders and coordinated with them. Partial lockdown was imposed on 22nd March in the country and on 25th March complete lockdown was imposed. Lakhs of labourers doing their jobs in other states were sent to their home state free by train. There was no basic infrastructure available in the country. Neither mask nor PPE Kit were being produced. Neither ventilators nor Testing Kits were available. Under the able-leadership of the hon. Prime Minister, basic infrastructure were developed in the country. Lakhs of people got employment. Dedicated Covid Hospitals were set up in the country where health workers remained available round the clock. 1.5 million beds have been made available in the country. Infrastructure facilities have been created including 80 thousand ICUs and 40 thousand ventilators. Now, we are sending all these things to more than 150 countries as an assistance. This is our international obligation too and it is also being done on humanitarian grounds. Earlier, there was only one laboratory available for testing. Now, there are 2410 laboratories functioning in the country. The Central Government has imparted online training to each and every frontline health worker, doctor and covid warrior. An army of the covid warriors was prepared to take on covid and it is the result of this that we have been able to control it. As of now, more than 3 crore people have been vaccinated whereas the vaccination started lately, i.e, on 16 January this year. Two vaccines have been developed indigenously and 7 more vaccines are under trial. There is no shortage of vaccine in the country. We are providing it to other countries also. The Ministry of Health has developed a digital platform through which monitoring is being done in this regard. Now, there are 541 medical colleges in the country whereas this number was 381 till 2014. There are 80,312 medical seats in the country and 80,300 doctors are being produced every year. The Modi Government has done an unprecedented work. Finally, I would like to request that the Darbharga Unit of AIIMS be made functional at the earliest. DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI: The Public Health System and Preventive Health Care in India is in disarray, even after seven decades of Independence. Health Care Measures taken by the during COVID crisis are laudable, despite several lacunae. Digital initiatives like Aarogyasetu, iGOT, e-Sanjeevani, Webinars from Centers of Excellence such as AIIMS, were very helpful to contain COVID crisis. Timely supply of medical disposables and laboratory equipment was very helpful. The fatality rate was very low when compared to many of the so-called developed nations. The unique volunteer system was a game changer in the management of COVID crisis in Andhra Pradesh. It was possible to update the health records of five crore people in just three days. Medical infrastructure was improved and thousands of medical personnel were appointed. Thousands of neighbouring State people were treated at AP hospitals. As envisaged in National Health Policy of 2017, our target for 2025 is 2.5 per cent of GDP. It would have been better had the Government of India allocated more funds to health sector in the present Budget. India ranks 184th out of 191 in terms of GDP per cent spent on health care as per WHO. We need to compensate the families of health workers who have scarified their lives in COVID war. A High Level Group on Health Sector and 15th Finance Commission have stressed the need to focus on primary health care in India. This will ease out workload at secondary and tertiary care centres. More funds need to be allocated for primary health care. Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharath Yojana, wherein Rs. 64,000 crore are proposed to be spent in the next six years, is highly commendable. About 70 per cent of our population is in rural areas, whereas only 30 per cent of qualified doctors go to rural areas to serve these people. This anomaly needs to be corrected by way of encouraging rural medical establishments. Drugs are available at 50-90 per cent cheaper rates. Now, we have only 7400 but we need lakhs of Jan Aushadi stores in order to reduce the rates of the drugs. A marketing officer should be appointed to the State of Andhra Pradesh. Through Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, 20 new AIIMS and 71 State Government Hospitals were sanctioned. AIIMS of Mangalagiri in the State of Andhra Pradesh is still under construction even after five to six years. I request the Government of India to release funds to speed up the process. The Standing Committee on Health recommended ten per cent of health budget be earmarked for research. The number of research papers published by ICMR depends on this allocation, so allocation needs to be enhanced. The COVID crisis reminds us of this fact. Through Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, I request the Government of India to help the three aspirational districts of Andhra Pradesh, namely Kadapa, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram on priority basis with regards to establishing tertiary care hospitals. I request the Government of India to increase allocations for health sector and make a healthy India. DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: The Union Budget 2021-22 has demonstrated the focus on building a more resilient healthcare system. The Government’s focus has also been on improving the COVID-19 vaccination in the country. I would like to congratulate the Government for the actions taken towards the COVID-19 pandemic management. The hon. Prime Minister prepared a comprehensive dedicated COVID-19 clinical management framework during lockdown. Temporary hospitals were set-up on a number of places. Arrangements were made for isolation beds, oxygen supported beds, ICUs and ventilators. The production of PPE kits, testing kits, N-95 masks etc. was started in the country. Besides, the work on vaccine research was also started. COVID-19 vaccination drive is so far the world’s largest vaccination drive. As on 11th March, 2021, a total of 2.57 crore doses have been administered to 2.10 crore beneficiaries. The Government has taken a very long-sighted decision of increasing the investment in public health to India for current and further pandemics. DR. RAJASHREE MALLICK: Under the NHM, though the Central release for the State of Odisha has been increased, but, compared to other States, the amount is extremely low. Under the National Vector Borne Disease Programme, the allocation to Odisha has consistently been decreased since 2017. I demand that second AIIMS to be established in Sundargarh district of Odisha. The pending funds should be released immediately from the centre for the medical colleges in Odisha. I would request to increase the Central funding for the infrastructural development of district headquarters. I would also request to increase the support for more effective functioning of NHM. There is a need to establish one super-speciality hospital in Paradeep. I request to upgrade the Ispat General Hospital at Rourkela. SHRI DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.: We expected the Government to increase its expenditure on health at least to 3 per cent of GDP but unfortunately, what we have got is only 1.8 per cent of the total GDP. In future, the emphasis should be laid on telemedicine and on investments that are concentrated in connectivity and health-care infrastructure. I urge upon the Government to give the vaccination free at least to the people who are poor and below the poverty line. The budgetary allocation should be made for doing research on AYUSH drugs so that these drugs can be exported which will bring very good income revenue to the Government. I request the Government to give Rs.5 lakh compensation to the frontline warriors, who have lost their lives during this pandemic. I would like to lay emphasis on NEET exam, which Tamil Nadu is against. By implementing NEET exam, the rural students are being denied the opportunity of studying medicine and as a result thereof around 15 students have lost their lives till now. We would like the Government to abolish the NEET exam. The argument that after the introduction of NEET, use of black money has been stopped is wrong. The private medical colleges are still having a free run but the poor people are the sufferers. Establishing AIIMS in Madurai is a long pending issue and since 2017 just one brick is laid there till now. DR. G. RANJITH REDDY: The funds allocated for the family welfare schemes have come down from Rs.500 crore last year to Rs.387 crore this year which is 11 per cent less compared to last year. We have requested for a virology institute and also a certification laboratory in Hyderabad. As per the National Health Policy of 2017, we are supposed to allocate around 2.5 per cent of our GDP to health whereas we are allocating only one per cent of our GDP. I request the Government to link Aadhaar with doctors and pharmacists which will have an effective control on quacks. I would like to congratulate the hon. Health Minister for having taken a decision to start a medical college in each and every district. Telangana has 33 districts and we are falling short by 17 medical colleges. So, I request the hon. Minister to look into this and sanction those 17 medical colleges also. I request the Government to allocate some pension for poor BPL kidney patients. I request the Government to give a helping hand to all the performing States, especially, to my State of Telangana. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: First of all, I express my gratitude to all the frontline workers and pay tribute to all those who lost their lives. If we are to achieve our health and family welfare targets then it is necessary to increase its budget. Today, it is 1.5 per cent of our GDP which is even less than the countries like , Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Even WHO, UN and Washington Post have appreciated Dharavi model and suggested that it should be adopted all over the world. Today, the maximum number of Corona tests in the country have been done in Maharashtra. We have constructed two hospitals with capacity of 1000 beds each in Mumbai. Hospitals with 1000 beds have been set up in each city. We have constructed hospitals of 1000 beds in my Parliamentary Constituency. Today, we have more than 3.5 lakhs of total beds. Maharashtra has received only 70 lakh doses so far while it needs 2.84 crore doses. I request the hon. Minister to make available the required doses as soon as possible. Out of our request for 377 Covid vaccination centres, we have received sanction only for 200 centres from the Ministry of Health. I request that sanction for the remaining centres should also be granted as soon as possible so that more and more vaccination centres can be opened and maximum number of people are provided vaccination. DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: Allocation made for the Health and Family Welfare is only 1.5 per cent of the GDP. It is unfortunate to have such little allocation despite the Corona pandemic. I offer my complements to the Government for the announcement of construction of 22 AIIMS in the country. The Government hospitals should be set up in accordance with the density of population. Every year, lakhs of people die in road accidents in our country, therefore, a state-of-the-art trauma care centre should be set up at a distance of every 50 kilometers on each highway in the country so that lives can be saved. An initiative, known as Indrayani Medicity Project, is being taken in my Constituency Shirur. If the hon. Minister provides special assistance for this project then latest health facilities can be provided to the rural people at reasonable rates. ASHA workers were at the forefront among the Covid warriors. In view of their contribution, responsibility and the risks faced by the ASHA workers, they should be provided an honorarium equivalent to the minimum wages. A special provision should be made in the budget for the costly treatment of diseases like genetic disorders. Vaccination centres should be accorded sanction in the rural areas having 50 bedded DHCs and DCHCs so as to increase the quantum and scope of vaccination. Maharashtra gets only 25 per cent doses of the weekly demand. Therefore, I demand that Maharashtra should get 20 lakh doses every week. As much as 4 per cent cess is levied on health and education. I would request the Hon. Minister to give the details of this amount in his speech as to how this amount is spent on health related issues. The countrymen need to know about it. DR. S.T. HASAN: I would like to focus on the infrastructure. This is no more secret as to in what conditions our primary health centres are. Barahapur, in my constituency is a major town but no qualified doctor has ever been appointed there in the primary health centre. We need to strengthen our primary health centres. I would like to know from the Hon. Minister that he has allowed Ayurvedic BAMS for conducting surgery but BMUS have not been allowed though the course is same. I would, therefore, request you to kindly not allow them to conduct major and super specialty operations. I would like to congratulate the hon. Minister of Health for working on war footing to control the Covid situation and that is why the pandemic is under control. I would like to thank our scientist community for developing the vaccine which many in the world could not do but alas! it has been politicised. I would request you to provide compensation to the doctors and paramedic staff who died fighting Corona so that those working on the ground do not feel discouraged. SHRI MALOOK NAGAR: Had the labourers been allowed to leave for their homes 5 to 6 days prior to the lockdown, the chaos would not have been there, the labourers would not have faced that much difficulties nor would they have died on the way back to their homes and would have reached their homes safely and securely. But it is not necessary to criticize the Government on each and every count, the Government should be supported for the good work. During the corona period, the Government provided assistance to many sectors. The poor and those belonging to the minority sections of the society should be provided the needed assistance. The leader of our party always thinks about the farmers, poor and the labourers and fights for them also. The fact is that the wrong policies pursued by the Congress party gave worth to our party and their wrong policies also gave rise to your party. DR. SATYA PAL SINGH: We all should lead a healthy life and we cannot succeed in life without good health. I would congratulate the Government for spending about 2.25 lakh crore rupees on health. However, I would like to raise 2-3 points here. The inspiring and effective leadership provided by our hon. Prime Minister to our nation and also to the world at large is quite appreciable. The hon. Prime Minister has instilled a sense of discipline among the people of our country which is praiseworthy. I would also put on record my sincere thanks to hon. Minister of Health, the health workers and the police force for their untiring efforts during these difficult times. Hon. Prime Minister while addressing in a webinar in the month of February had said that if we wanted to make our country healthy, then we had to adopt a four pronged strategy. The diseases are to be checked and health is to be promoted. Effective treatment facilities need to be provided to all especially to poor people. The Ayushman Bharat Scheme and Pradhanmantri Jan Aushad Kendras need to be strengthened. More AIIMS need to be set up. Certain diseases need to be treated in a mission mode. Then only, we can build a self-reliant and healthy India. During corona times, Ayurveda and our traditional medicines have been found to be very effective. The WHO has therefore decided to set up the global centre of traditional medicine in India. I would like to make a humble request to hon. Minister of Health that if we spent 10th of what we are spending on allopathic system, on yoga education, training health workers, then we can certainly improve the health conditions in our country. We should rise above the party politics and work unitedly in this direction. SHRI HASNAIN MASOODI: Our this year's health budget is 11 per cent less than the revised estimate. Likewise, there is only 4 per cent increase in the budget for NHM. This has been overlooked completely as to which issues we are to tackle. The role played by our External Affairs Minister and the Defence Minister in bringing back the students of Jammu and Kashmir stranded in foreign countries, was highly appreciable. We need to strengthen our primary, secondary and tertiary level health system in the country. We also need to support National Rural Health Mission and National Urban Health Mission in a big way. However, the budget allocation for this purpose does not augur well. We are fighting with the COVID, the vaccination campaign is on and we are helping the foreign countries as well. During these difficult times, the diabetes and kidney issues have registered steep rise and we need to pay attention to them while fighting against the COVID. SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR: The global covid pandemic has brought the world economy to a grinding halt and countries including India are on the throes of severe recession. I must note that the nation has stood with the Union Government and all the State Governments irrespective of their political affiliations have abided by the advice of the Central Government in containing the pandemic and now, in the roll out of the vaccine. The Budget for 2021-22 apparently has an enhanced allocation of 137 per cent increase for health. But it is largely on account of subsuming allocation of the other sectors like water and sanitation under the broader health sector. Similarly, four per cent increase proposed in the outlay for the National Health Mission is grossly inadequate. Coverage of families under Ayushman Bharat also needs to be increased from the present ten crore families. I may add that in Punjab where there are 60 lakh families, only 14 lakh families are covered under Ayushman Bharat. There are a few suggestions that I would like the hon. Health Minister to consider. First, to augment our primary healthcare facilities so that preventive healthcare can improve; secondly, curative facilities in secondary and tertiary care hospitals in Government sector must be improved through a special mission mode project over the next one to two years. There are two things I would like to put forward for my State of Punjab. One is sanctioning of Rs.200 crore for effective COVID management. Besides, I would like them to review the current vaccination strategy to include vulnerable groups such as school and college teachers, drivers, journalists, Judicial Magistrates and workers in markets and include those age groups which can spread the disease but are less vulnerable to illnesses. I would also like to ask for genome sequencing laboratory since we do not have anything of that sort in North of India and the sanctioning of a medical college in Gurdaspur which is a border district. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA: I congratulate the hon. Minister, ICMR and others for successfully controlling and containing the first phase of COVID-19 pandemic and also for taking up the largest vaccination drive in the world. I would like to highlight two issues regarding the State of Andhra Pradesh. I searched almost all the Budget documents as to what the Ministry has given for AIIMS that has been set up in Guntur, my Parliamentary Constituency, but failed to get any details. The hon. Minister is on record saying that full-fledged hospital would become functional by September, 2020 at Mangalagiri. Secondly, I would like to know from the hon. Minister the present status of hostels, labs, staff quarters and Departments. The hon. Minister must also be aware that a mysterious illness struck Eluru in West Godavari district of my State of Andhra Pradesh in which nearly 700 people get affected. I would request the hon. Minister to kindly tell this House the status of the illness. Moreover, I would like to suggest to increase health sending from the present 1.1 per cent to 3 per cent of GDP. SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY: The decision to announce lockdown in the country was taken quite at the right time during the Corona Pandemic and it has benefited the entire country. I know that health is a State subject but the way hon. Prime Minister has constantly been in touch with all the Chief Ministers did not allow any sort of problem to crop up. The credit for this achievement goes to our hon. Prime Minister. Just now, our Minister of External Affairs said in his statement that the vaccines made in India are being supplied to as many as 72 countries. This is the great achievement for us and moreover the world has showed faith in our vaccine. I would like to extend my thanks to the hon. Prime Minister and the hon. Minister of Health and Family Welfare for announcing a medical college to be set up in my Parliamentary Constituency, Pali. There were only six All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in the year 2014 and now the number of these institutes has been increased to 22 and certainly the credit for this goes to the BJP Government. Today, our healthcare system has carved out a niche in the world. SHRIMATI ANUPRIYA PATEL: On behalf of my party, I rise to speak in support of the Demands for Grants for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the year 2021-22. The total allocation for the Ministry this year is Rs. 73,932 crore out of which Rs.71,269 crore is for the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Rs.2,663 crore is for the Department of Health Research. I want to begin with the Department of Health Research first for which I feel the allocation is quite low because it is just 4 per cent of the total budget allocation of the entire Ministry. What the COVID pandemic taught us is that we need more of regular research because it is research which prepares to deal with the unforeseen emergencies like the pandemic that we see today. I would also request the hon. Minister to ramp up the vaccination drive in all the poll-bound States such as West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Besides, it is important to increase the public spending on health to 2.5 per cent of the GDP. SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL: It has been announced that the health budget has been increased by 137 per cent and the same was appreciated in this House. But when you go into the details of the budget documents, you will find that it is nothing but a manoeuvring of figures. The components of the drinking water scheme, public sanitation and nutritious foods have also been included in the budget earmarked for health. It is a fact that today we are not spending even 1 or 1.5 per cent of the GDP on health while this country needs to spend at least 3 per cent of its GDP on healthcare sector. There is no doctor and no nursing staff in 90 per cent public health centers of the country and hence attention is required to be paid to this aspect. It is being claimed that we are supplying our vaccines to 72 countries. I would like to suggest that, first of all, each and every person of the country should be vaccinated and only after completing the vaccination process in the country, you may supply the vaccines to other countries of the world also. DR. SUJAY VIKHE PATIL: Even in the challenging situations of CORONA pandemic, our country has emerged as a torchbearer for the entire world under the leadership of hon. Prime Minister and under the effective administration of our Health Minister. I would like to address a few issues to the hon. Health Minister regarding my Ahmednagar Constituency. Firstly, the funds that are disbursed from PM’s National Relief Fund for various medical ailments need to be done in a swift manner. When we, as Members of Parliament, issue letters for people undergoing transplantations, joint replacements, cancer treatments, funds take a lot of time to reach those patients, and probably the patients do not get treatment on time. Lastly, my point is to make the role of Members of Parliament more important in disbursement and utilization of funds from the Centre. SHRI E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER: At the very outset, I salute the healthcare workers of India who did marvelous service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire country is proud of them. Coming to the Demands for Grants, the Budget allocation for health is quite inadequate. I would like to say that emergency steps should be taken to fill up the vacancies of healthcare personnel. Moreover, the healthcare services should be made affordable to the common man. When we talk about the health for all, the socially disadvantaged groups, economically marginalized sections, and systematically marginalized sections should be considered properly. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL: There were about 2 lakh deaths in India from Corona pandemic. If Covid tests were done stringently at the international airport, Corona would have not spread in India in such a magnitude. Therefore, responsibility should be fixed in this regard. In many states including Punjab and Maharashtra, the second wave of Corona has come. India was pioneer in manufacturing the vaccine for it and it was praised all over the world for the same. But here the question rises that how the Government is going to stop the second wave of the Corona. It is true that funds are provided to poor patients from the Prime Minister Relief Fund. But the amount needs to be increased. I would also like to submit that MPLADs schemes should be resumed so that the money can be utilized for increasing the infrastructure in the medical health sector. So the Government should make such arrangement in this regard. I would also like to thank the Government for increasing the budget allocation for the health sector. Again, I would like to request the Government to revoke the license of Shelby hospital in view of a recent incident in Rajasthan. I would also like to urge upon the Government to deploy experts at AIIMS Jodhpur at par with AIIMS Delhi. Similarly, there is a need to probe the fake appointments taken place at AIIMS Jodhpur. SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: I would like to submit that in 2014, the total population of our country was 125 crore and we did not have health services as per the WHO parameters. There was a big challenge before us and India faced that challenge successfully. This Government has increased the number of hospitals, Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres. This Government has undertaken various programmes for the prevention of diseases as well as for the modernization of hospitals. Apart from that, more than 1.5 crore people have been provided free healthcare under the Ayushman Yojana. At the same, 7000 Jan Aushadi Centres were also setup. I would like to thank the Government for providing a medical college in my district. I would urge upon the Government to inaugurate the mother-child hospital at the earliest. At the same, deadline of a pilot project pertaining to Lakhimpur should be extended to 2 years. I would also like to submit that the Government took a timely decision to control the outbreak of Covid-19. Lastly, I would like to say that the increase in budget allocation has brought about a major change the health sector. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED: According to the WHO standards, the ratio of doctors and patients should be 1:1000 but unfortunately there are about 1550 people dependent on a single doctor in India. In Bihar, the situation is more miserable. More than 28000 people are dependent on a single doctor there. There are only 139 sanctioned posts of doctors in my area Kishanganj against which only 48 doctors are deployed and remaining 101 posts are lying vacant. At least, services of 3000 doctors are needed here. Therefore, I would request that a branch of AIIMS should be setup here. Also there is need to set up pharmacy colleges at Bahadurganj, Amaur. Similarly, nursing colleges are also required to be set up in this area. I would urge upon the Government that the allocation on mental health should be increased as well. DR. SANGHAMITRA MAURYA: This Government has successfully prevented the outbreak of Corona epidemic in the country. Today, I would draw the attention of the Government towards the plight of women in our country. I would request the Government to make arrangements for providing HPV vaccine for girls upto the age of 15 years. It could be made compulsory if we include this vaccine in the national immunization schedule. At the same time, I would also request the Government that health check-up drive should be carried out for women in rural and urban areas. Similarly, I would like to appeal the Government that a Trauma Centre should be set up in the Gunnaur area in my constituency. At the same, adequate facilities should be provided at the medical college in Badaun. SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: The Corona epidemic has taught us that healthcare is the most important in the world. So, there is a need to pay particular emphasis on the health budget and to increase it. I would like to mention about the prevailing condition of health sector in Andman-Nicobar. The gender ratio is declining here and the Government should take note of this situation. At the same time, the children younger than 5 years old are underweight and there number has increased from 21.6 per cent to 23.7 per cent today. Here, women are also suffering from many diseases. Therefore, my submission is that the Government should take some steps in this regard in Andman-Nicobar Islands. It is a remote area. So, there is a need to set up an AIIMS in Andman-Nicobar Islands also. Similarly, the ‘ANISHI’ scheme should be resumed here. In addition, infrastructural facilities should be provided in the hospitals and adequate number of medical personnel should be deployed here. Air ambulance is also very much needed here. It is also requested that services of ASHA workers should be regularized SHRI INDRA HANG SUBBA: At the very outset. I would like to express our gratitude to the healthcare workers and the frontline warriors. I would also like congratulate the Government for the outstanding work. But in our country, we still have the problem of accessibility to the healthcare system and the non-availability of healthcare system leads to unnecessary and various difficulties to the people of remote areas. Especially in the rural areas, we do not have enough healthcare opportunity there. So, I would like to bring to the notice of the Government that at least one community health centre must be there at the sub-division level as well. Similarly, we must also have a better awareness programme in the rural areas. Again, I feel that health research must be our priority so that we can have been better research and development programme to cope up with the unforeseen situations like to the COVID pandemic.

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UTPAL KUMAR SINGH Secretary General

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