Madam Speaker, I am
happy to inform the House that the Cabinet has approved the National Health
Policy 2017. It is a huge milestone in the history of health sector in the
country. The Health Ministry has formulated the National Health Policy 2017
under the guidance of the hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The last
National Health Policy was framed in 2002. So, this policy has come after a gap
of 15 years to address the current and emerging challenges necessitated
by the changing socio-economic, technological and epidemiological landscape.
The Government of India adopted a highly participative and consultative
approach in policy formulation process. The Draft National Health Policy was
placed in public domain on 30th
December, 2014 and over 5000 suggestions were received. This was
followed by consultations with the State Governments and the other stakeholders
for further140 fine- tuning of the policy. The Policy was
placed before the Central Council for Health and Family Welfare, the
apex160 policy making body and was unanimously endorsed by
it.
The Policy informs
and prioritizes the role of the Government in shaping health systems in all
its dimensions – investment in health, organization and financing of health
care services, prevention of diseases and promotion of good health
through cross-sectoral action, access to technologies, developing human
resources, encouraging medical pluralism, building the knowledge base required
for better health, financial protection strategies and regulation and
progressive assurance for health. The Policy is aimed at reaching healthcare in
an assured manner to all, particularly the underserved and the underprivileged.
The Policy aims for attainment of the highest possible level of health
and well-being for all at all ages, through a preventive and promotive health
care280 orientation in all developmental policies, and
universal access to good quality health care services without anyone having to
face financial hardship as a consequence. This would be achieved through
increasing access, improving quality and lowering the cost of health care
delivery.320 The broad principles of the Policy are centered
on professionalism, integrity and ethics, equity, affordability, universality,
patient centered and quality of care, accountability and pluralism. The Policy seeks
to move away from Sick-Care to Wellness, with thrust on prevention and
health care promotion. Before this, the Policy was for the Sick-Care Health
Policy. Now we are making it Promotional and Preventive Health Policy. While
the policy seeks to reorient and strengthen the public health systems,
it also looks afresh at strategic purchasing from the private sector and
leveraging their strengths to achieve national health goals. The Policy looks
at420 stronger partnership with the private sector.
As a crucial
component, the policy proposes raising public health expenditure to 2.5 per
cent of the GDP in a time bound manner. The
Policy advocates a progressively incremental assurance-based approach. It
envisages providing larger package of assured comprehensive primary health
care through the Health and Wellness
Centers
Madam, we have
started universal screening for blood pressure, diabetes, cervix cancer,
breast cancer and for oral cancer. We have taken 100 Districts this year. This
policy focuses on tackling the emerging challenge of non-communicable diseases.
It supports an integrated approach where screening for the most prevalent NCDs
with secondary prevention would make a significant impact on reduction of morbidity
and preventable mortality. We are sure to achieve these targets with the
active participation and collaboration of the States.640 The
policy envisages a three dimensional integration of AYUSH systems encompassing cross-referrals,
co-location and integrative practices across systems of medicines. This has a
huge potential for effective prevention and therapy that is safe and cost-effective.
Yoga would be introduced much more widely in school and work places as part of
promotion of good health. To improve and strengthen the regulatory environment,700
the policy seeks putting in place systems for setting standards and ensuring
quality of health care. The policy is patient centric and empowers the patient
for resolution of all their problems. This is a shift from the old policy. We
are making it patient-centric. Now, we will develop the standards as to what
is the protocol, how the treatment has to be done and if the treatment is
not done accordingly, the tribunals will be set up to take care and patients
will get redressal from that.
Madam Speaker, I
rise to respond to the House regarding an incident800 of
firing on Indian fishermen in Palk Bay Palk Bay 6 March 2017 ,
in which a fishing vessel from Tamil Nadu was fired upon, allegedly by the Sri
Lankan Navy, leading to the death of an Indian fisherman. Another fisherman was
also injured in the firing.
After the incident
was reported, the Government, through diplomatic channels, took up the matter
urgently with the Government of Sri Lanka and expressed our strong concern over
the incident. The Sri Lankan side has, however,960 denied the
involvement of their Navy in the firing incident. Our High Commissioner
personally spoke to Sri Lankan Prime Minister and980 Navy
Commander on this matter. The Sri Lanka Navy however maintained that
their patrol boats are not authorized to open fire at any point on Indian
fishermen even if they are transgressing into the Sri Lankan waters. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, in a separate statement,
conveyed their deep concern over the firing and loss of life, reiterating the
commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that all Government
agencies treat Indian fishermen in a humane manner at all times. The
Sri Lankan Government has further reassured us that all possible action will be
taken in cooperation with the relevant Indian authorities to investigate the
incident. The President of Sri Lanka also conveyed to our Vice President in
their meeting in Jakarta on 7th March, 2017 on the sidelines of
the Indian Ocean Rim Association1120 Leaders' Summit
his regret at the unfortunate incident and the loss of life. He
emphasized that he has ordered a full investigation. We will be pursuing this
matter with the Sri Lankan Government.
It is because of
the priority attached to this issue by our Government that the fishermen issues
were raised at the highest level, including by the Prime Minister in his
meetings with the Sri Lankan President in the last two years. We consider
the matter as essentially humanitarian in nature, involving the livelihood
and socio-economic practices of our fishermen community. Both leaders had
called for finding a permanent solution to the matter. I have also discussed
the matter, in great detail, with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister during my
visit to Colombo in February 2016,
when we co-chaired the 9th Meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission.1260
We have since then steadfastly worked towards finding a permanent
solution to the matter. Last November, based on the feedback,1280
I, along with our Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, held a bilateral
ministerial meeting with Sri Lanka
in New Delhi to discuss the issue
in a comprehensive manner. I also had a meeting with the Fishermen's
Associations on this issue.
I would like to
share with the august House that an agreement was reached at the meeting to set
up a Joint Working Group on Fisheries as a bilateral institutional mechanism to
help find a permanent solution to all fishermen issues. It was also agreed that
Ministers for Fisheries of the two countries meet every six months to
review the progress. The first meeting of the JWG
on Fisheries was held in New Delhi
on 31st December 2016 and1400
the first ministerial meeting was held on 2nd January 2017 in Colombo .
The JWG agreed to a set of Confidence
Building Measures which included an understanding to ensure that there was no
physical harm or loss of life while apprehending1440
fishermen by Navy and Coast Guard of the two countries. Madam Speaker, the Government,
as a result of its consistent efforts, has secured the release of 1045 Indian
fishermen in custody of Sri Lanka
in 2014; 375 fishermen in 2015; 333 fishermen in 2016; and 51 fishermen in
2017. While 85 Indian fishermen along with 136 fishing vessels were in the
custody of Sri Lanka ,
I am glad to inform the House through you that all the fishermen have since
been released. Seventy-seven fishermen have returned to India
the day before yesterday and as I speak, the rest of the1540
eight are on their way back to India .
We are also pursuing the release of the fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody.
I would again like to
reassure the hon. Members that the Government of India accords the highest
priority to promote the well being, safety and security of our
fishermen. We have strongly conveyed to Sri
Lanka that the1600 use of
force cannot be justified under any circumstances. The Government continues to
remain engaged with the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that the rights of
the detained Indian nationals are protected and that the fishermen on both
sides can continue to pursue their livelihood in a safe, secure and sustainable
manner.1653
