Medical Services

The Health finds predominant place in three of the eight goals, eight of the sixteen targets and eighteen of the forty-eight indicators of the "Millenium Development Goals of the UN". Health is the most important social service sector having direct correlation with the welfare of the human being.

Health is defined by the World Health Organization [WHO] as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is one of the vital elements that determines human development and progress in a given time and space. Good health and a long life are valued possessions. For most people, the realization of goals and ambitions depends on having a reasonable and healthy life span. This can in turn, provide an opportunity to develop abilities and use this innate potential in pursuit of personal goals, that will bring indirect benefits to individuals as also to the society as a whole. Good health is thus a key factor for an individual in leading an economically meaningful life. Good health is of paramount importance for a socially and economically productive life. In fact, the well being of a State depends, to a great extent, on sound health of its people. It is one of the primary functions of the Government to provide good healthcare facilities to all its citizens.

In the words of Nobel Laureate, Amartya Sen, "Bad health is constitutive of poverty. Premature mortality, escapable morbidity, undernourishment are all manifestations of poverty. I believe that health deprivation is really the most central aspect of poverty."

Tripura, being located in south-west corner of the North-Eastern Region, has suffered due to infrastructure and other bottlenecks, which has adversely affected the economic development of the State. The high incidence of poverty and backwardness are also telling on the health condition of the State. The State is also suffering due to shortage of appropriate health manpower. However, due to concerted efforts made by the State Government, there has been a positive change in the health scenario in recent years.

National Programmes like Reproductive Child Health, National Programme for Control of Blindness, National AIDS Control Programme, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme National Cancer Control Programme, National Leprosy Eradication Programme, National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, District Mental Health Programme etc. are being implemented effectively in the State. Pulse Polio Immunization Programme is being successfully implemented since 1995-96. The National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) is a major partner and in conjugation with the Health Department, has done effective work, especially at the grassroots level, giving the entire health services in the State a major boost. As a result of concerted efforts made by the State Government there is a visible improvement in the health status of the people of Tripura.

Moreover, under Tripura State Illness Assistance Fund, benefits are given to the BPL patients for treatment of diseases like heart, lung, kidney, brain, neurological disease requiring surgical intervention out side the state.

Despite all constrains, the State Government is fully committed to deliver best possible health care services to the people, especially the primary healthcare services. Side by side special attention is being paid to preventive and promotive aspects of healthcare, in addition to the curative measures.

State Population Policy:

The Government of Tripura announced the “State Population Policy-2000”in August, 2001 with three following objectives.

1. Immediate objective: To address the unmet needs for contraception, health care infrastructure and health personnel and to provide integrated service delivery for basic
   reproductive and child health care.

2. Mid-term objective: To bring total fertility rate (TFR) to replacement levels through rigorous implementation of inter-sectoral operational strategies.

3. Long-term objective: To achieve a stable population by 2045 at a level consistent with the requirement of sustainable economic growth, social development and environment protection. Main endeavour will be on elimination of poverty and illiteracy and socio-economic upliftment of the people.

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Objectives:

The main focus under the health and family welfare sector is "health care for all" in the State with particular reference to the poor and backward people. The State has comparatively performed better in the field of health & medical facilities despite its economic backwardness and in absence of modern health care facilities.

1. To provide adequate and qualitative preventive and curative healthcare to the people of the State.

2. To improve maternal and child health and in particular to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

3. To ensure equality in health care to all, particularly to disadvantaged groups like scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, backward classes and women.

4. To provide affordable quality health care to the people of the State through allopathic, homeopathic and ayurvedic system of medicines etc.

5. To give training to doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff to meet the need of health care in the State.

6. To ensure greater access to primary health care by providing medical institutions as close to the people as possible.

Health Indices:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Recommendation of J.V.R. Prasada Rao Committee:

A High Level Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Sri J.V.R. Prasada Rao, the then Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India to review the situation in the entire North Eastern Region for the development of health facilities and health manpower. The committee submitted the report in April, 2001. The relevant abstract of the recommendation of the Committee in respect of Tripura was as under.

Recommendation of health infrastructure in Tripura and shortage as on 31-03-2000.

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Recommendation of health manpower in Tripura and shortage as on 31.03.2000:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

The Health Department is running short of different categories of Medical and Paramedical staff in comparison to the sanction strength of such staff, shortage of staff / vacancy in the Department are shown in the below.

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Health Infrastructure:

There were 19 Hospitals, 11Rural Hospitals and Community Health Centres, 79 Primary Health Centres, 603 Sub-Centres/Dispensaries, 7 Blood Banks and 7-Blood Storage centers in allopathic branch during 2009-10 through which the State Government has been providing basic health facilities to all section of the society.

The State Government Medical College has been started from August 2006, which is the first medical college in the State, and named as Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC).

Besides, there is a private Tripura Medical College and Dr. B.R.Amedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital set-up in October, 2006 at Hapania, Agartala.

Allopathic medical facilities of the State during 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

In addition to these facilities, the State Government has been giving thrust to expand and strengthen the homeopathic and ayurvedic system of medical services as a complement to the modern medical facilities especially in the rural area.

Status of Homeopathic and Ayurvedic Medical facilities of the State Government during 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Moreover, there are one State Homeopathic Hospital and one State Ayurvedic Hospital in Tripura.

Total number of beds in medical institutions in the State, 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Manpower:

Status of technical manpower position under the State Health Department during the years 1998 and 2010:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Total number of patients treated both indoor and outdoor in the State during 2008-09:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

District wise Number of Indoor and Outdoor patients by kinds of desease in 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Family Welfare:

The Health & Family Welfare sector is not only limited to catering health care and facilities to masses of all sections but is also entrusted with the task of stabilisation of population by implementing the policies through various National Programmes from time to time. In this endeavor the State of Tripura has also formulated the State Population Policy in August 2001 for progressing towards the ideal and subsequently constitution the State Population Commission under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Chief Minister.

The main objective of the Family Welfare and Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) is to stabilize population at a level consistent with the needs of National developments. The main highlights of the RCH programme and interventions which calls for are:

• People have the ability to reproduce and regulate their fertility.

• Women are able to go through pregnancy and childbirth safely.

• The outcome of pregnancies is successful in terms of maternal and infant survival and well being.

• Couples are able to have sexual relations free of fear of pregnancy and of contracting diseases.

• Infrastructure Development for better service.

• Manpower Development.

• Integrated Training Packages.

• IEC activities and counseling on Health, Sex & Gender.

• Tribal Area RCH Package.

• RTI / STI Clinic at District Hospitals.

• MTP & IUD services upto PHC Level by providing equipment, medicine furniture etc.

• Enhanced community participation through Panchayet Women Group & NGOs.

• Major and minor civil works to provide facility for better RCH services.

• Laboratory diagnosis of RTI/ STI.

• Adolescent Health.

State’s performance on family planning during 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

District wise performance of family planning in the State during 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Immunization:

State performance on immunization and MCH during the year 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Pulse Polio:

The performance of Pulse Polio Immunization Programme in the year 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Voluntary Blood Donation:

The achievement under voluntary blood donation by month during the year 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme:

State performances by district on blood samples collections / tests during the year 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Details of D.D.T spray during the year 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Control of blindness and visual impairment:

Achievement of the control of blindness and visual impairment during 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme:

Achievement under the programme during 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

National Leprosy Eradication Programme:

Achievement under the programme during 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Cancer control programme:

Achievement under the programme during 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

National Mental health programme:

The achievement under the programme during 2008-09:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10

Achievements under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM):

• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) Scheme: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and neo-natal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among the pregnant women residing in remote rural areas.

Under this scheme, beneficiaries ranging from SC, ST & BPL mothers having two children above the age of 19 years are given cash incentives of Rs.700/- in each case for rural areas and Rs.600/- for urban areas. Those opting for delivery at home are also provided with cash incentive of Rs.500/- under this scheme.

The total benificieries under JSY during 2009-10 was 20,402 in the State.

• Accredited Social Health Activist(ASHA): ASHA stands for Accredited Social Health Activists, which are selected by and accountable to the Panchayats. ASHAs are placed in every ICDS run Anganwadi Centres of the State. She acts as first port of call to attend any health related intervention in the community. Every ASHA is also a member of Village Health & Sanitation Committees constituted in all 1040 GPs (including ADC villages) and hence, are involved in local health planning for increased access and accountability of health services.

•  Village Health & Sanitation Committee: Out of 1,040 VHSC constituted, 1,011 committees are operational so far with joint accounts of ANM/AWW/ASHA and the Gaon Pradhan. Under NRHM, Untied Funds @ Rs.10,000/- per annum is provided to each committee to enable undertaking of local health action.

Other Achievements under NRHM:

• Operationalization of Mobile Medical Units: Taking health care to the doorsteps is the principle behind improving access to health care and equitable distribution of health services. Under the National Rural Health Mission provision of Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) in each District is one of the strategies to improve access. Under the initiative, Ramakrishna Mission has been entrusted for operationalizing the Mobile Medical Units (MMU) in West Tripura district. MMUs in the remaining three districts are being operationalized by the respective Chief Medical Officers.

• Hospital Waste Management under Infection & Environment Management Plan is implemented through an outsourced agency for effective management of wastes (sharp needles, human/ anatomical waste, toxins, radio-active substances etc.) generated by the PHCs so as to prevent further pollution by air or water.

• Procurement of Diesel Generator Sets have been procured for all categories of Health Institutions for regular power supply and installation of the same has been completed in most of the health institutions.

• Health Management Information System (HMIS) for effective data management leading to better management of health programme, HMIS is implemented in the State.