The government proposes to create an enabling environment for the social empowerment of the de-notified tribes so that they could utilise reservation benefits in education and employment.
A nation-wide survey of de-notified tribes’ settlements is to be conducted to form the basis for introducing a suitable shelter programme for them. They could be entitled to free or subsidised housing under various government schemes.
12 units from India are eligible for supplying vaccines to international bodies
In a major boost to the country’s private vaccine manufacturing pharmaceutical companies, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that India’s national regulatory authority — Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) — and its affiliated institutions meet the prescribed international standards.
Factors in 2010: diabetes, high blood pressure, tobacco smoking, including second-hand smoking, and alcohol use
The three leading risk factors for global disease burden in 2010 were high blood pressure, tobacco smoking, including second-hand smoking, and alcohol use, while in 1990 the leading risks were childhood underweight, household pollution from sold fuels, and tobacco smoking, including passive smoking.
In a major setback to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, a Parliamentary Committee has rejected a Bill which seeks to provide a mechanism to regulate standards of medical education in the country citing “serious apprehensions” raised by various stakeholders, including State governments.
In its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health that considered the National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH) Bill, 2011, has recommended that the Ministry may withdraw this Bill and bring forward a fresh Bill after sufficiently addressing all the views, suggestions and the concerns expressed
To meet the growing demand for institutional deliveries, the government has enhanced the bed capacity of public health facilities exclusively for mother and child care by a whopping 20,000 beds.
To be implemented under the Reproductive and Child Health scheme, the increase in the bed numbers will benefit 10 States that have bad health indicators but a heavy patient load for institutional deliveries. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set a target of two to two-and-half years for the additional infrastructure to become functional.
Union Cabinet okays comprehensive strategy for prevention, control of disease
In good news for millions of children vulnerable to Japanese Encephalities and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in 15 States, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a comprehensive strategy for prevention and control of the disease. The Rs.4,038-crore proposal of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for intervention/activities recommended by the Group of Ministers will be implemented in 60 priority districts for five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17.
Unable to get an exemption for the cooking gas cylinders used for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in the wake of a steep hike in the prices of domestic gas, Union Human Resource Minister Kapil Sibal has suggested that the Petroleum Ministry consider providing subsidised LPG cylinders for the current fiscal year.
“It might be preferable at this point to provide for subsidy as earlier for the LPG cylinders, instead of seeking approval for an increase in cooking cost which would necessitate revisiting allocation for the Mid-Day Meals Scheme and seeking Parliamentary approvals for the increased allocation,
Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare officers broke into celebrations on Thursday evening when a phone call from the Enterovirus Research Centre, Mumbai, informed them that the suspected case of polio reported from Bihar had tested negative for wild poliovirus.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry went into a tizzy on being informed of the suspected case of polio from Darbhanga, Bihar. Soon, the government declared an immunisation drive in 28 districts of the State as a precaution, while carrying out detailed investigation into the case.
Giving itself discretionary powers on release funds to States under various Central schemes, the Planning Commission has decided to restructure 16 Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) into Additional Central Assistance (ACA) Schemes. The new funding pattern will be effective from 2013-14.
While restructuring the CSSs will give more flexibility to the States to utilise the funds, it will also give the Planning Commission absolute control over the quantity of money to be released. CSS funds are routed through the Ministries, but once the new system is in place as many as 11 ministries will lose monetary control over their ambitious schemes.
It is estimated that the disease kills 20,000 people in India and 55,000 worldwide every year
Acknowledging that rabies is a major public health challenge in India, the government proposes to make it a priority disease for control under the 12th Five Year Plan. A viral zoonotic disease primarily infecting domestic and wild animals, rabies spreads to people through close contact with infected saliva via bites and scratches. There is no treatment available globally after the disease develops. An estimated 20,000 deaths occur annually in India due to rabies.
