Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the Indian government
ministry
charged with health policy in India
. It is also responsible for all government programs relating to family planning in India
.
The Minister of Health and Family Welfare holds cabinet
rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is Shri. Ghulam Nabi Azad
, who is assisted by a Minister of States for Health and Family Welfare, Shri. Dinesh Trivedi & Shri. S. Gandhiselvan.
The ministry is composed of three departments: the Department of Health, Department of Family Welfare, and Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). It regularly publishes the Indian Pharmacopoeia
since 1955 through Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) an autonomous body under the ministry for setting of standards for drugs, pharmaceuticals and healthcare devices and technologies in India.
, including awareness campaigns, immunization
campaigns, preventive medicine
, and public health
. Bodies under the administrative control of this department are:
welfare
, especially in reproductive health
, maternal health
, pediatrics
, information, education and communications; cooperation with NGOs
and international aid groups; and rural health services. The Department of Family Welfare is responsible for:
(Indian traditional medicine
), and other yoga
, naturopathy, unani
, siddha
, and homoeopathy, and other alternative medicine
systems.
The department was established in March 1995 as the Department of Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy (ISM&H).The department is charged with upholding educational standards in the Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy colleges, strengthening research, promoting the cultivation of medicinal plants used, and working on Pharmacopoeia
standards. Bodies under the control of the Department of AYUSH are:
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
ministry
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
charged with health policy in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is also responsible for all government programs relating to family planning in India
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
.
The Minister of Health and Family Welfare holds cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is Shri. Ghulam Nabi Azad
Ghulam Nabi Azad
Ghulam Nabi Azad is an Indian politician from the Indian National Congress and the current Minister of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of India....
, who is assisted by a Minister of States for Health and Family Welfare, Shri. Dinesh Trivedi & Shri. S. Gandhiselvan.
The ministry is composed of three departments: the Department of Health, Department of Family Welfare, and Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). It regularly publishes the Indian Pharmacopoeia
Indian Pharmacopoeia
Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is the official drug administration agency of India. The IPC sets standards for all drugs that are manufactured, sold and consumed in India. The set of standards are published under the title Indian Pharmacopoeia which has been modelled over and historically...
since 1955 through Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) an autonomous body under the ministry for setting of standards for drugs, pharmaceuticals and healthcare devices and technologies in India.
Department of Health
The Department of Health deals with health careHealth care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, including awareness campaigns, immunization
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....
campaigns, preventive medicine
Preventive medicine
Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms...
, and public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
. Bodies under the administrative control of this department are:
- National AIDS Control OrganisationNational AIDS Control OrganisationThe National AIDS Control Organisation , established in 1992, is a division of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that provides leadership to HIV/AIDS control programme in India through 35 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Societies, and is "the nodal organisation for formulation of policy...
(NACO) (see HIV/AIDS in IndiaHIV/AIDS in IndiaAccording to a recent study in the British Medical Journal, India has an HIV/AIDS population of approximately 1.4-1.6 million people. The estimated number of human immunodeficiency virus infections in India has declined drastically in recent years—from 5.5 million in 2005 to below 2.5...
) - 13 National Health Programmes
- National AIDS Control Programme (AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
) - National Cancer Control Programme (cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
) - National Filaria Control Programme (filariasisFilariasisFilariasis is a parasitic disease and is considered an infectious tropical disease, that is caused by thread-like nematodes belonging to the superfamily Filarioidea, also known as "filariae"....
) - National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (iodine deficiencyIodine deficiencyIodine is an essential trace element; the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodotyronine contain iodine. In areas where there is little iodine in the diet—typically remote inlandareas where no marine foods are eaten—iodine deficiency gives rise to...
) - National Leprosy Eradication Programme (leprosyLeprosyLeprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
) - National Mental Health Programme (mental healthMental healthMental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
) - National Programme for Control of Blindness (blindnessBlindnessBlindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
) - National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (deafness)
- National Tobacco Control Programme (tobacco control)
- National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) (vector-born diseaseBlood-borne diseaseA blood-borne disease is one that can be spread through contamination by blood.The most common examples are HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and viral hemorrhagic fevers....
) - Pilot Programme on Prevention and Control of Diabetes, CVD and Stroke (diabetes, cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular diseaseHeart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
, strokeStrokeA stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
) - Revised National TB Control Programme (tuberculosisTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
) - Universal Immunization Programme
- National AIDS Control Programme (AIDS
- Medical Council of IndiaMedical Council of IndiaThe Medical Council of India was the statutory body for maintenance of uniform and high standards of medical education in India. The Council grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical colleges, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical...
- Dental Council of IndiaDental Council of IndiaThe Dental Council of India was incorporated under The Dentists Act, 1948 to regulate dental education and the profession throughout India. It is financed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and through the local state dental councils....
- Pharmacy Council of IndiaPharmacy Council of IndiaThe pharmacy education and profession in India up to graduate level is regulated by the Pharmacy Council of India , a statutory body governed by the provisions of the Pharmacy Act 1948 passed by the Indian Parliament....
- Indian Nursing CouncilIndian Nursing CouncilThe Indian Nursing Council is a regulatory body for nurses and education in nursing in India. It is an autonomous body under the Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare , constituted by the Central Government under section 3 of the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 of Indian...
- All India Institute of Speech and HearingAll India Institute of Speech and HearingThe All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, commonly known as AIISH , is located in Manasagangotri , Mysore, India. It is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare...
(AIISH), Mysore - All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AIIPMR), MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
- Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation Limited (HSCC)
Department of Family Welfare
The Department of Family Welfare (FW) is responsible for aspects relating to familyFamily
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
welfare
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
, especially in reproductive health
Reproductive health
Within the framework of the World Health Organization's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system...
, maternal health
Maternal health
Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It encompasses the health care dimensions of family planning, preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care in order to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.Preconception care can include...
, pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
, information, education and communications; cooperation with NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
and international aid groups; and rural health services. The Department of Family Welfare is responsible for:
- 18 Population Research Centres (PRCs) at six universities and six other institutions across 17 statesStates and territories of IndiaIndia is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
- National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), South DelhiSouth DelhiSouth Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.It is bounded by the Yamuna River to the east, the districts of New Delhi to the north, Faridabad District of Haryana state to the southeast, Gurgaon District of Haryana to the southwest, and South West...
- International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
- Central Drug Research InstituteCentral Drug Research InstituteThe Central Drug Research Institute is one of the first laboratories to be established in India right after its independence. CDRI is among the thirty nine laboratories that are functioning under the aegis of the council of scientific and Industrial Research CSIR of India...
(CDRI), LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division.... - Indian Council of Medical ResearchIndian council of medical researchThe Indian Council of Medical Research , New Delhi, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world.-History:...
(ICMR), New DelhiNew DelhiNew Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
- founded in 1911, it is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world
Department of AYUSH
The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) deals with ayurvedaAyurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
(Indian traditional medicine
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine comprises unscientific knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine...
), and other yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, naturopathy, unani
Unani
Unani-tibb or Unani Medicine also spelled Yunani Medicine means "Greek Medicine", and is a form of traditional medicine widely practiced in South Asia...
, siddha
Siddha
A Siddha सिद्ध in Sanskrit means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who, according to Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara , have subdued their minds to be subservient to their Awareness, and have transformed their bodies into a different kind of body dominated by...
, and homoeopathy, and other alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
systems.
The department was established in March 1995 as the Department of Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy (ISM&H).The department is charged with upholding educational standards in the Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy colleges, strengthening research, promoting the cultivation of medicinal plants used, and working on Pharmacopoeia
Pharmacopoeia
Pharmacopoeia, pharmacopeia, or pharmacopoea, , in its modern technical sense, is a book containing directions for the identification of samples and the preparation of compound medicines, and published by the authority of a government or a medical or pharmaceutical society.In a broader sense it is...
standards. Bodies under the control of the Department of AYUSH are:
- Various research councils
- Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS)
- Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)
- Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH)
- Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN)
- Several educational institutions:
- National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur (NIA)
- National Institute of Siddha, Chennai (NIS)
- National Institute of HomoeopathyNational Institute of HomoeopathyNational Institute of Homoeopathy is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy , Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt...
, KolkataKolkataKolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
(NIH) - National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune (NIN)
- National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore (NIUM)
- Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar,Gujarat (IPGTR)
- Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, New Delhi (RAV)
- Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi (MDNIY)
- Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL), Mohan, Uttaranchal (a public sector undertaking)
- Professional councils
- Central Council of HomoeopathyCentral Council of HomoeopathyCentral Council of Homoeopathy is a statutory apex body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Deptt. of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy...
(CCH) - Central Council of Indian MedicineCentral Council of Indian MedicineCentral Council of Indian Medicine is a statutory body under Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy , Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, set up in 1971 under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, which was passed in 1970...
(CCIM)
- Central Council of Homoeopathy