Latest news with #UnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare
United News of India
a day ago
- Health
- United News of India
Over 4,300 thalassemia patients registered in portal; Majority under age 12: Govt in RS
New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) As many as 4,361 thalassemia patients have been registered on the National Sickle Cell Portal, with children below the age of 12 accounting for a significant share ie 2,579 cases, data shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today in the Rajya Sabha revealed. Responding to a written question in this regard, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel stated that a dedicated thalassemia module was integrated into the Sickle Cell Portal in 2023. The module enables States and Union Territories to systematically upload patient records, thereby facilitating regular monitoring, follow-ups, and data-driven surveillance on a national scale. The Minister noted that while the overall responsibility for thalassemia-related management and public awareness lies with respective State and UT governments, the Centre continues to extend support under the National Health Mission (NHM). This includes both financial and logistical assistance aimed at strengthening public health infrastructure. 'Support is provided for a range of services, including screening and treatment, provision of medicines, blood bank facilities, day care centres, laboratory services, training of healthcare personnel, and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities,' Patel said. These measures are incorporated into the Programme Implementation Plans submitted annually by States and UTs, she added. Highlighting ongoing efforts to improve access to advanced treatment, the Minister also referred to the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY), an initiative supported by Coal India Limited under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandate. The scheme provides financial assistance of up to Rs10 lakh for bone marrow transplants (BMT) in eligible patients, and is currently operational across 17 empanelled hospitals nationwide. UNI AJ SSP
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
ONGC provides nutrition support to tuberculosis patients
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Cauvery Asset, has come forward to provide nutrition support for the tuberculosis patients under the 'Ni-kshay Mitra' programme of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Collector B. Priyanka Pankajam has said that the 'Ni-kshay Mitra' programme was a part of the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan scheme. The objective of the programme was to supplement the nutrition requirements of tuberculosis patients, who were provided ₹1,000 a month for purchasing cereals and other nutritious consumables. The ONGC, as part of its Corporate Social Responsbility (CSR) activity, has come forward to provide nutrition kits to 600 tuberculosis patients in the district, for six months. Each kit would comprise cereals, millet, pulses, vegetable oil, and others. In Thanjavur district, every year around 3,000 persons suffering from tuberculosis were being treated, she added.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
2,426 cr Covid fight bill hit state economy hard: Report
1 2 3 Visakhapatnam: The Covid-19 pandemic not only triggered a public health emergency but also imposed significant financial pressure on the Andhra Pradesh exchequer. Between 2019–20 and 2022–23, the state incurred an expenditure of 4,606 crore on various Covid-19 prevention and management measures, according to the CAG report. Andhra Pradesh was among the hardest-hit states, recording over 23 lakh cases—ranking fifth in the country in terms of case load. In response to the emerging crisis, the state ramped up healthcare infrastructure beginning February 2020. Key initiatives included setting up diagnostic labs, expanding testing capacity, procuring medicines and vaccines, strengthening oxygen supply networks, and mobilizing critical medical resources. Although public health is a state responsibility, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provided both technical and financial aid to assist states in managing the pandemic. The Centre introduced the Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP) to curb transmission and mitigate impact. Under ECRP-I, funds released to Andhra Pradesh in FY 2020–21 were fully borne by the Centre. In 2021–22, the funding was shared between Centre and state in a 60:40 ratio. According to the CAG report, during the four-year period, Andhra Pradesh received a total allocation of 4,961.36 crore (both Central and state share) and spent 4,606 crore. Of this, the state govt on its part spent 2,426.47 crore. GoI's share amounted to 1,876.44 crore, of which 1,612.45 crore was utilised. From the state disaster response fund, 140.95 crore was used out of the allocated 187.87 crore. Meanwhile, 426.13 crore was spent from the district mineral fund, against an allocation of 534.41 crore. At the onset of the pandemic in Feb 2020, Andhra Pradesh had no Covid-19 testing infrastructure. The state responded swiftly by establishing 135 testing laboratories. Until these labs became operational, test samples had to be sent to other states for processing. During the second wave, the state expanded the number of Covid-19 treatment hospitals from 260 in the first wave to over 640. It also ramped up human resources, recruiting 17,300 doctors and support staff during the first wave, and an additional 18,000 medical personnel during the second wave. Notably, Andhra Pradesh became one of the few states in India to achieve 100% double-dose vaccination coverage among eligible population groups. In a major welfare initiative, Andhra Pradesh became the first state in the country to include Covid-19 treatment under its flagship Arogyasri health scheme (now renamed as NTR Vaidya Seva). This decision enabled over 1 lakh patients to receive free inpatient treatment at private hospitals across the state.
Hindustan Times
22-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
ASHAs envisaged to be community health volunteers, says health ministry
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday said that the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are envisaged to be community health volunteers and the support for them is primarily the responsibility of State and Union Territory governments. The health ministry said the primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system, including support for ASHA workers lies with the respective State and Union Territories. (Representational image) The ministry was responding to a question raised by John Brittas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The ministry said that central financial and technical assistance is provided based on Programme Implementation Plans submitted by the states, within the limits of available resources. The ministry also noted that ASHAs currently receive a fixed monthly incentive of ₹3,500, revised from ₹2,000 in March 2025 during the 9th meeting of the Mission Steering Group. They are also eligible for additional performance-based payments and team-based incentives of up to ₹1,000 per month under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative. Non-monetary entitlements include uniforms, identity cards, cycles, mobile phones, drug kits, and access to rest rooms. ASHAs who have served for at least 10 years are eligible for a one-time recognition amount of ₹50,000, revised from ₹20,000 in March 2025, along with a formal certificate. The Ministry further stated that ASHAs are covered under centrally funded insurance schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana. Pension benefits of ₹3,000 per month after the age of 60 are available through the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan Yojana, with contributions shared equally by the government and the beneficiaries. Health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year is also provided under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. In response to a specific reference to Kerala's 'highest' monthly honorarium of ₹7,000 plus incentives and the state's demand to reclassify ASHAs as 'health workers', the Ministry did not indicate any plans to change the current policy. It stated that the incentive structure is revised periodically in line with programme requirements.
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Kerala drags feet on snakebite surveillance; yet to declare snakebites as notifiable disease despite Centre's directive
Eight months after the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directed all States to classify snakebite envenomation as a notifiable disease, the Kerala government is yet to implement the required measures. The delay, experts warn, could seriously undermine the State's ambitious goal of eliminating snakebite fatalities within the next five years. In November 2024, the Centre had issued a directive to all States under the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming from India by 2030 (NAPSE). Emphasising the need for a robust surveillance system, the plan highlighted mandatory notification of snakebite cases as crucial for accurately tracking incidents, evaluating interventions and identifying high-risk areas. While several States, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha, have already acted on the directive, Kerala is still in the process of navigating bureaucratic hurdles. According to official sources in the Kerala Health department, a proposal to declare snakebites as a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act was submitted months ago, but has yet to receive final clearance from the Law department. Officials in the Forest department said this delay is impeding crucial mitigation strategies, particularly the identification of snakebite hotspots and the distribution of life-saving anti-snake venom (ASV). 'A heat map was prepared based on 34 snakebite deaths reported during 2024–25. But mapping hotspots solely using death locations is neither scientific nor foolproof,' a Forest department official said. He added: 'To anticipate snakebite patterns and respond effectively, we need data on all bite cases, not just fatalities. That requires a centralised reporting mechanism that only a notifiable status can enforce.' Reliable data is also crucial to ensure adequate ASV supply in health centres and regularly review preparedness. Seasonal and species variations must also be accounted for in planning, the official noted, pointing to snakebite trends that typically peak from September to December during the snake breeding season. Assistant Conservator of Forests and SARPA (Snake Awareness Rescue and Protection App) State nodal officer T. Mohammed Anwar pointed out that Kerala records around 30 snakebite deaths annually, with an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 envenomation cases every year. 'Snakebite is responsible for the majority of wildlife-related human casualties in the State. Notably, all four of the 'Big Four' venomous snakes, viz., the Indian cobra, Russell's viper, common krait and Indian saw-scaled viper, are present in Kerala,' he said. The SARPA app, launched in August 2020, has logged over 58000 snake sightings and rescues, considerably bringing down snakebite deaths from 123 in 2018-19 to 34 in 2024-25. But without integration with a State-level surveillance system that mandates reporting of bite cases, its potential remains underutilised, officials lament.
