Parliamentary panel Recommends Revising Organizational Structure of Dept of Health & Family Welfare

This suggestion has been given by the Committee to implement several schemes, initiatives, and programs effectively. Thus, the Committee has recommended the Ministry to revisit its organizational structure and "explore the possibility of division of its work for effective and result oriented working." It has also been recommended to constitute an expert group for this purpose.

The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, headed by Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, has submitted its 126^th report on Demands for Grants 2021-22 on 08.03.2021.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was previously comprised of two separate departments- Department of Health and Department of Family Welfare. Both the departments were merged and renamed as Department of Health & Family Welfare vide Cabinet Secretariat Notification dated 1st March, 2005 under Government of India (Allocation of Business Rules, 1961).

Parliamentary Committee has observed that the merger of the two Departments into one was made primarily to facilitate the smooth functioning of the Ministry and to avoid duplication of work. The integration of the two departments facilitated the integration of the Health and Family Welfare aspects into the policymaking.

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However, the Committee also took note of all the roles and responsibilities entrusted upon the Ministry.

Currently the Department of Health and Family Welfare (as per the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, as amended upto Amendment Series no. 348, dated 5th February 2019) takes care of the Union agencies and institutes for research or for the promotion of special studies in medicine and nutrition. The list of those institutes includes Central Research Institute, Central Drugs Laboratory, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research, Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) among others.

The Ministry monitors all matter related to Institutions like Central Food Laboratory, National Tuberculosis Institute, Central Leprosy Teaching and Research Institute, International Health Regulations, World Health Organization (WHO), among others.

Health Programs relating to International aid for Health Programmes, All National Programmes relating to control and eradication of communicable diseases, Bilateral Cultural Exchange Programmes relating to control and eradication of communicable diseases among others are also monitored by the Ministry.

Apart from these, the Ministry also takes care of all the fellowships- for training in India and abroad in various medical and health subjects, matters related to the epidemics - Problems connected with supply of medicines, effects of malnutrition, and shortage of drinking water leading to various diseases as a result of natural calamities.

Legislative and Executive Purposes of all the Public Health hospitals and dispensaries in the Union Territories, Scientific societies and associations pertaining to subjects dealt with in the Department, Charitable and religious endowments pertaining to subjects dealt with in the Department is also handled by the Ministry.

The Ministry also takes care of all the matters related to medical, nursing, dental, and other medical professions and education. It also deals with matters related to the Medical Council of India, Dental Council of India and many other such authorities.

On top of all these, the Family Welfare matters include National Health Mission, National Commission on Population, Reproductive and Child Health and many other issues. There are many other aspects that need to be monitored by the Ministry only.

After taking note of all these roles and responsibilities that the Ministry needs to take care of, the Parliamentary Committee added, "The Department of Health and Family Welfare has been entrusted with vast role and responsibilities of implementing a large number of Schemes. The Committee, therefore, envisages that there is the need to look into the organizational structure of the Department and its scientific and logical organization to have focused and effective implementation of scores of schemes, program and national initiatives."

Asking the Ministry to take a clue from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Industry, the Committee further added, "A clue may be taken from the organizational structure of large Ministries like the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Industry. The Committee, in this connection, recommends the Ministry to revisit its organizational structure and explore the possibility of division of its work for effective and result oriented working."

Finally, giving suggestions of forming an expert committee for this purpose, the Committee recommended, "The Committee recommends that the Government may consider to constitute an Expert Group for detailed assessment of the organization of the Department of Health and Family Welfare and to suggest measures for the purpose."

To view the Parliamentary Committee report, click on the link below.

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