Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure to Prevent Future Pandemics: Health Minister

Written by Medical Dialogues Team Published On 2025-04-07T10:45:33+05:30 | Updated On 7 April 2025 10:58 AM IST

New Delhi: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to global health systems and economies, highlighting significant gaps in preparedness and response mechanisms. During a recent Lok Sabha session, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, informed that the government has taken proactive steps to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, enhance economic resilience, and improve pandemic preparedness.

A key part of the government's recovery plan has been robust capital expenditure, especially in infrastructure, and support for small enterprises, agriculture, and education. According to the Ministry, these efforts have contributed to a projected average annual growth rate of 8.2% for the period 2021-2025, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

In anticipation of future pandemics, India has significantly enhanced its medical and emergency infrastructure through a series of targeted schemes and programs. These initiatives focus on both preventive measures and strengthening the country’s healthcare capacity.

Research and development (R&D) is another pillar of India’s strategy to combat future pandemics. The government has promoted R&D across a wide array of fields, including disease epidemiology, genomics, and the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. The Department of Health Research, alongside the Ministry of Science and Technology, has been actively involved in promoting research to ensure that India is ready to respond swiftly to any future health crises.

The government has also allocated substantial financial resources to further bolster the healthcare system. Moreover, raising awareness among the general public is essential to ensure that communities are prepared for future pandemics. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched several campaigns under the Swastha Nagrik Abhiyan (SNA).

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The minister was responding to the questions raised by Putta Mahesh Kumar whether the Government has prepared any emergency policies so as to reduce the massive economic losses caused by the previous pandemic in the country, and if so, the details thereof.

He asked about the details of the preparedness of India’s medical and emergency infrastructure for future possible pandemics;

He seeks to know the total number of researchers and professionals who have been appointed/presently employed to ensure that India is prepared for future pandemic situations in our country.

He also asked about the total amount of funds allocated and utilised to make our medical infrastructure prepared for possible pandemics in the future across the country during the last three years, State/UT-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh; and

Furthermore, he asked whether the Government has undertaken any campaigns for raising awareness on pandemic preparedness amongst the general public and if so, the details thereof?

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Responding to these questions, the minister informed that the Government of India, in light of the pandemic, has followed an inclusive policy approach by strengthening social security systems along with a continued emphasis on economic growth. The government is implementing various targeted measures to provide relief to low-income and vulnerable sections, such as by providing the elderly with pensions, healthcare facilities and creating elder-friendly public spaces and mobility options. This, coupled with the Government’s efforts to provide affordable housing, social security for workers, food security, financial inclusion, universal access to basic amenities, and affordable healthcare to improve the overall well-being. At the same time, the Government’s focus on robust capital expenditure, infrastructure build-up, financial sector reforms, ease of doing business, agriculture, education, skill development, small Page 2 of 3 and micro enterprises, and urban development is likely to sustain high growth rates of Indian economy, amidst geopolitical uncertainties. These measures have helped the Indian economy to achieve an average annual growth rate of 8.2 per cent during 2021-22 to 2024-25 (estimates for 2024-25 are the second advance estimate released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation).

Prevention of and preparedness against pandemics is a shared global responsibility. In order to better prepare against future pandemics/public health emergencies in the country, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare provides requisite support to States/UTs to enhance their capabilities.

MoS Health further informed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, including setting up of health facilities and recruitment of medical personnel based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission.

Further, the Government of India has launched several schemes to address healthcare infrastructure in all the States/UTs in the country, in addition to the National Health Mission:

• Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to provide better access to health in rural areas by i) Strengthening of Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities for early detection of diseases; ii) Addition of new critical care-related beds at district level hospitals; iii) Support for Block Public Health Units (BPHU) in 11 high focus States; and iv) Integrated district public health laboratories in all districts.

• The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the health sector and spread over the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 to facilitate strengthening of the health system at the grassroots level.

• The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable tertiary healthcare services and to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country. The Scheme has two components, namely, (i) setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS); and (ii) Upgradation of existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions (GMCIs).

• Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’, with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. The fund sharing mechanism between the Centre and State Governments is in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States, and 60:40 for others.

Preparedness and response to pandemics is a multi-faceted activity wherein research and development activities span a wide array of activities, including disease epidemiology, genomics, development, and clinical testing of pandemic countermeasures like diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines, logistics, etc. Government of India promotes research and development in such Page 3 of 3 activities through a number of technical Ministries/Departments, including the Department of Health Research and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Funding support has been provided to States/UTs for health system strengthening to meet any exigency due to public health emergencies like pandemics. During the FY 2020-21, funds to the tune of Rs. 8473.73 crore have been released to the States/UTs towards the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package (ECRP-I) for health infrastructure strengthening, expansion of laboratory network, surveillance, procurement of medical logistics, etc. Under India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package-Phase II, a sum of Rs. 12,740.22 crore support was provided to States/UTs for ramping up health infrastructure and provision of medical logistics. This included funds provided for enhancement of bed capacities at Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals; establishment of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) plants, establishment of paediatric Centres of Excellence and paediatric ICU beds, etc.

Further, a release of approximately Rs. 4500.64 crore has been provided as central release of grants under PM-ABHIM (FY 2022-23 till FY 2024-25) for better public health preparedness through Critical Care Blocks at Medical Colleges and District Hospitals, Integrated Public Health Laboratories, etc.

Financial support of Rs. 441.94 crore, Rs. 417.91 crore, and Rs. 80.86 crore was provided to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh under ECRP-I, ECRP-II, and PM-ABHIM, respectively.

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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under Central Sector Scheme, Swastha Nagrik Abhiyan (SNA) aims to support healthy lives and promote the well-being of all at all ages through Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities. Such IEC activities are taken up by the States/UTs as per the priorities of the diseases under the National Health Mission (NHM) program. IEC activities have encouraged health-seeking behavior among the masses resulting in better health outcomes through various Health programs of the government, the minister added.

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure MissionLok Sabhacovid 19Prataprao Jadhav

Medical Dialogues Team