Swine flu, a global pandemic, hits India

He has probably been the country���s busiest cabinet minister. With a global pandemic ��� the first in 41 years ��� threatening to infect two billion people across the globe over the next two years, which includes 33% of India���s population, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has his hands full.

The H1N1 influenza virus is novel ��� a mix of a human, swine and avian flu strain, that every human on this planet is vulnerable to. But for Indians, the virus is a bigger threat ��� it has already killed 80 people in India.

The country has the world���s highest number of diabetics, heart patients, aged population and women who are pregnant, all known to be in the highest risk category. This makes Azad���s job tougher.

He reacted quickly and upgraded 16 other labs to test H1N1 samples. He gave states a free hand to select private labs to test in tandem, centralized Tamiflu stocks to avoid shortages or hoarding and lashed out at states for failing to take the threat seriously.

Besides swine flu, Azad���s crusade against fake drugs has made his critics sit up and take notice. In order to tackle the menace, he proposed a whistleblower policy that would reward both the public and officers who inform and help seize spurious, adulterated and misbranded drugs and medical devices. And the reward ��� a maximum of 20% of the total cost of consignments seized, which should not exceed Rs 25 lakh in each case.

He has also been working hard to fill vacant medical posts in rural areas. Doctors willing to work in farflung areas have been told they will earn double of their urban counterparts.

The ministry will identify ���difficult, most difficult and inaccessible areas, particularly in hilly states, northeastern states and tribal areas��� where primary health centres (PHCs) would be set up.

Azad is also looking to improve the country���s human resources in health. India at present is short of 6 lakh doctors, 10 lakh nurses and 2 lakh dental surgeons. For every 10,000 Indians , there is one doctor.

He is now planning a National Council for Human Resources in Health ��� an overarching regulatory body that will look to enhance skilled medical personnel.

HITS

Decentralizing stock of anti-virals against H1N1

Quickly upgrading 20 govt labs to cope with H1N1 testing

Harsher punishment for making and selling spurious drugs

MISSES

Failure to launch National Urban Health Mission

Not upgrading state medical colleges to increase postgraduate medical seats

Failure to initially bring in line states over containment of H1N1

CHALLENGES

Minimise the spread of H1N1 and thereby reduce the number of deaths due to infection

Upgrade Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme

Fast-tracking of six new AIIMSlike institutions and 13 other medical institutes in next 3 years