Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is a ministry under the Government of India shouldering the responsibility of health policy in India. Since its formation in 1976, its function has been focused on the health and family welfare schemes and programmes. Its also responsible for all government programmes relating family planning.
Current ministers: –
- Dr. Harsha Vardhan (cabinet minister) and
- Shri Ashwini Kumar Chaubey (minister of state).
Composition: – MoHFW comprises of other departments such as Department of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Health Research.
Department of Health –
It is one of the departments which works under the MoHFW. It deals with health care system, awareness and immunisation campaigns, health scheme. It is the soul administrative body to control such other organisations as –
§ National AIDS Control Organisation
§ National Health Programmes –
- o National Cancer Control Programme
- o National Filaria control Programme
- o National Leprosy Eradication Programme
- o Revised National TB Control Programme.
§ Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
§ Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation
Department of Family Welfare –
This department works under the MoHFW. It is the regulating body for family welfare regarding reproductive health, family planning, maternal health care. It works associated with many NGOs and rural health services. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), one of the oldest institutions of the world, falls under the ambit of MoHFW. Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, works under the guidance of this ministry.
Department of Health Research –
This department was established in 2007 and became functional in the same year. It promotes research facilities and resources in the field of medical science.
Initiative of MoHFW –
v National Health Portal
This portal was started by the ministry in accordance with the decisions of the National Knowledge Commission. It was set up to provide the all over health-related information to the citizens. It aims to give a single point access to authenticated health information just as a gateway.
v Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matriva Abhiyan
Launched by MoHFW, it aims at providing comprehensive assured and qualitative antenatal care to all pregnant women. It will be free of cost universally for all. Providing proper care, medicines and appropriate facilities is the soul vision of the programme.
v E-Rakt Kosh
It is a centralized blood bank management system to integrate the resources and provide them on time. It was inaugurated on 7th April 2016 by the government. Some of its functions and advantages are –
o It ensures the enforcement of the Drug & cosmetics Act standards and guidelines of National blood Policy.
o It prevents wastage of blood.
o It plays an essential role in networking and integrating blood banks for safe and adequate supplies.
o Real time information is maintained.
o Works on Biometric Donor Management system.
v National Digital Health Mission
This mission is controlled by National Health Authority under the ambit of MoHFW. It has a visionary goal to reduce the gap between the stake holders such as doctors, healthcare pharmacies, insurance companies and the citizens. It will look after integrating all the health infrastructure digitally for easy access to all. This mission also talks of providing a “Universal Health ID” to every citizen for easy diagnosis and access to infrastructures.
SOURCES –
- Wikipedia,
- mohfw.gov.in,
- nhp.gov.in.
– —Pallavi Mohapatra