Medical and Health Technology In UP ( Science & Technology )

Introduction

Under the National Health Policy, one Primary Health Centre is established for every 30,000 rural populations in the plains and for every 20,000 rural populations in hilly/tribal areas of the state. Every 4 Primary Health Centres or at the block level, a Community Health Centre with 30 beds is set up.

Taking into account the 2011 census, as per the policy announced by the state government in February 2014, one Primary Health Centre will be established for every 30,000 population. A minimum distance of five kilometres has been set between two Primary Health Centres. For every one lakh population, one Community Health Centre will be established.

Medical Education

The Directorate General of Medical Education and Training in Uttar Pradesh plays a crucial role in ensuring that the state has well-trained healthcare professionals to address health issues and promote well-being. They also oversee the functioning of medical colleges and hospitals, ensuring they are well-equipped and provide high-quality healthcare. Additionally, they support medical research and education through various colleges in the state. This directorate was formed in 1994, focusing on medical education and controlling medical colleges and their affiliated hospitals. Their ultimate goal is to improve healthcare and the quality of life for the people of Uttar Pradesh.

Functions and Duties of Directorate General of Medical Education in the state of Uttar Pradesh:

1. DGME’s primary functions involve the management and enhancement of Medical and Dental Colleges, along with overseeing Medical/Paramedical diploma, degree, Post Graduate, and Super Specialty programs across the state of U.P.

2. Facilitate and promote high-quality research in various subjects within state medical colleges.

3. Ensure the provision of standard medical facilities to patients. This dual role of the directorate involves offering excellent educational training in various medical, dental, and paramedical colleges, alongside providing state-of-the-art medical services to patients.

Medical Colleges :

There are 67 medical colleges in UP  ( 2023) :

• 35 government medical colleges
• 32 private medical colleges

With the assistance of the central government, cancer institutes are being established in medical colleges in Lucknow, Prayagraj, Jhansi, and Gorakhpur.

In the state, there are two national mental hospitals, located in Varanasi and Bareilly, respectively, as well as one independent hospital in Agra.

Food Safety

The Food and Drug Administration and Directorate :

1. In September 2008, the Food and Drug Administration and Directorate were established.
2. Their purpose was to rid the state of adulterated food items and counterfeit or substandard medicines.
3. Additionally, they were tasked with effectively regulating these products.
4. Commissioners have been appointed in the Directorate.

Tobacco Control 

Under the National Tobacco Control Program, a state-level Tobacco Control Cell has been established. There are also district-level cells in Lucknow and Kanpur.

Tuberculosis Control

The National Tuberculosis Control Program :

1. The National Tuberculosis Control Program has been in operation since 1968 in the state, with support from both the central and state governments.
2. In 1992, after the World Health Organisation declared tuberculosis a global emergency, the central government introduced some changes.
3. In 1993, they initiated the revised National Tuberculosis Control Program.
4. This revised program was initially implemented only in Lucknow in 1995.
5. By December 2005, it had been expanded to cover the entire state.
6. Under this program, diagnosis and treatment are provided free of cost.
7. There are microscopy centres for the examination and treatment of potential tuberculosis patients for every one lakh population.
8. Additionally, one TB centre is established for every five lakh population.
9. Data centres have been set up to provide medication to populations ranging from 5,000 to 30,000.
10. In this program, support is sought from almost all types of hospitals.

Prevention of Blindness

The National Program for the Prevention of Blindness :

1. The National Program for the Prevention of Blindness (NPB) is a fully funded program by the central government and has been active in Uttar Pradesh (UP) since 1977.
2. The main goal of the NPB is to lower UP’s blindness rate from 1% to 0.3%.
3. The program offers comprehensive eye care services, including screening, diagnosis, and treatment for blindness and visual impairments.
4. Cataract surgery is the most common procedure performed under the NPB.
5. Since 2007-08, the NPB has been operating as part of the Rural Health Mission (RHM).

Additional details :

1. The NPB is managed by State Programme Officers (SPOs) in each state.
2. SPOs collaborate with district program managers (DPMs), ophthalmologists, and other eye care providers to deliver services to UP’s residents.
3. The NPB provides financial assistance to individuals who cannot afford eye care services.
4. The program has effectively reduced UP’s blindness rate. In 2001-02, the blindness rate was 1.1%, and by 2015-19, it had dropped to 0.9%.

UPHSDP

The Uttar Pradesh Health System Development Project (UPHSDP) :

The Uttar Pradesh Health System Development Project (UPHSDP) is a collaborative effort between the World Bank and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and it has been ongoing since the year 2000.

The primary objective of the UPHSDP is to enhance the healthcare system within Uttar Pradesh.

Key activities under this project encompass several areas :

1. Revitalisation of existing medical facilities, involving infrastructure improvements, the provision of essential equipment and supplies, and staff training.
2. Development of new medical facilities, including the construction of new hospitals and primary health centres.
3. Training programs for healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and other personnel, to adopt modern medical practices.
4. Ensuring the availability of essential medicines by procuring and distributing them to all health facilities in the state.
5. Enhancing health information systems through the strengthening of data collection and reporting mechanisms to better monitor and evaluate the health system.

The UPHSDP has demonstrated significant progress in enhancing the healthcare system in Uttar Pradesh. It has expanded access to healthcare services and improved their quality. Furthermore, the project has played a role in reducing both maternal and infant mortality rates.

Additional details about the UPHSDP include :

1. The project’s implementation spans across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
2. The total cost of the project is US$250 million.
3. The anticipated completion date for the project is in 2025.

The UPHSDP constitutes a substantial contribution to the betterment of healthcare in Uttar Pradesh. It has substantially increased access to high-quality healthcare for millions of individuals in the state, consequently reducing the burden of disease and enhancing the overall health of the population.

Infectious diseases

Infectious Disease Hospitals in Uttar Pradesh :

Uttar Pradesh hosts three notable infectious disease hospitals:

1. Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow
2. King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow
3. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) in Lucknow

These specialised medical facilities are dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and managing infectious diseases, playing a crucial role in handling outbreaks and providing care to patients with contagious illnesses.

1. SGPGIMS, the largest and most well-equipped infectious disease hospital in Uttar Pradesh, boasts a 1,000-bed capacity, staffed by experienced medical professionals. It features a state-of-the-art laboratory for disease diagnosis and isolation wards for contagious patients.
2. KGMU, another significant infectious disease hospital in the state, can accommodate 500 patients and is also staffed by a team of experienced healthcare providers. It has a diagnostic laboratory and isolation wards for contagious cases.
3. RMLIMS, a smaller infectious disease hospital in Uttar Pradesh with a 200-bed capacity, is staffed by doctors and nurses. While it has a diagnostic laboratory, it lacks isolation wards for contagious patients.

Beyond these three hospitals, Uttar Pradesh has several smaller infectious disease units typically affiliated with larger hospitals, offering basic care for infectious disease patients.

These medical facilities are vital for effectively managing infectious diseases in Uttar Pradesh, preventing their spread, providing patient care, and conducting infectious disease research.

Additional facts about infectious disease hospitals in Uttar Pradesh :

1. The state has witnessed an increase in infectious disease cases in recent years due to factors like population growth, increased travel, and changing climate.
2. The Uttar Pradesh government is actively working to enhance hospital infrastructure, staff training, and equipment procurement to address this challenge.
3. Public awareness campaigns on infectious disease prevention are also part of the government’s efforts.

AIDS

AIDS Hospitals and Facilities in Uttar Pradesh :

Uttar Pradesh hosts one AIDS hospital, established by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) at Kanpur Medical College.

Additionally, the state operates 5 AIDS surveillance centres and 13 regional blood testing centres.

ART :
The number of AIDS cases in India has been on a decline, attributed in part to increased access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART), enabling those with HIV to lead healthy lives.

The government of India is actively working to expand ART access and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services.

Initiatives include constructing new AIDS hospitals, blood testing centres, and healthcare worker training.

NACO

The NACO is responsible for coordinating and implementing HIV/AIDS control and prevention programs in India.

The NACO provides funding and technical support to AIDS hospitals, surveillance centres, and blood testing centres across the country.

The NACO also works to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and promote prevention measures.

Road Safety

The Road Traffic Accident Emergency Services

The Road Traffic Accident Emergency Services, established under the Central Government’s healthcare plan in 2003 in Lucknow, India, aims to provide immediate medical services to victims of road accidents so that they can receive assistance and save lives. This network includes the availability of doctors and necessary facilities at the accident site to ensure prompt medical aid to the injured individuals.

MDT

The Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) :

The Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) approach aims to reduce and treat leprosy (Hansen’s disease). In this therapy, a combination of various drugs is used, which are effective against different types of leprosy-causing bacteria. This therapy is valuable for the successful treatment of leprosy, with the goal of completely curing the disease.

Miscellaneous

In the year 2021-22, the number of Ayurvedic medical colleges and pharmacies is 2111, while the number of Unani medical colleges and pharmacies is 256.

There are two pharmaceutical manufacturing units, one in Lucknow and one in Pilibhit, for the production of Ayurvedic and Unani medicines.

In the year 2021-22, the number of Homeopathic medical colleges and pharmacies is 1585.

Conclusion

In recent years, the state government of Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing its medical and health technology infrastructure. Recognizing the vital role that technology plays in healthcare, substantial investments have been made to bolster this sector. The primary objective is to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their location or economic status, have improved access to quality healthcare services.

These investments encompass a wide range of initiatives, including the digitization of health records, the development of telemedicine services, and the establishment of modern medical facilities. Additionally, efforts have been directed towards healthcare outreach programs in rural and underserved areas, leveraging technology to bridge the gap.

This strategic focus on medical and health technology signifies the state’s dedication to achieving better healthcare outcomes, promoting preventive measures, and addressing the healthcare disparities prevalent in Uttar Pradesh. It reflects a forward-looking approach aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of its residents.

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