Govt wants to set up Food Science & Risk Management Centres:

Government today said that it proposes to set up a National Food Science and Risk Assessment Centres (NFSRAC) to strengthen food regulatory structure.
"A NFSRAC is proposed to be set up as part of the scheme to strengthen food regulatory structure in the country," Health Minister J P Nadda told the Lok Sabha.
He said that the central government has not asked the states to bear any expenditure on account of setting up of NFSRAC. "The proposal to set up the NFSRAC has, however, not been approved as yet," he said.
Replying to another question, he said that as per MCI records, there are 9.29 lakh doctors registered in Indian Medical Registrar as on March 31, 2014.

"Assuming 80 per cent availability, it is estimated that around 7.4 lakh doctors may be actually available for active service. It gives a doctor population ratio of 1: 1674, against the WHO norm of 1:1000.
"Besides, there are an estimated 6.77 lakh ayurveda, unani and homeopathy doctors in the country. If all allopathic and AUH streams are considered together, it gives a doctor availability ratio of 1:855 which is better than the WHO norm," Nadda said.

He said that as per report of the steering committee for the 12th Five Year plan of the Planning Commission, India has 19 health workers (doctors -6, nurses and midwives -13) per 10,000 people in India.

WHO norms provide for 25 per 10,000 people. Additionally, there are 7.9 lakh AYUSH practitioners registered in the country (approx 6.5 per 10,000), Nadda said.
Replying to another question, he said that according to a report published by International Diabetes Federation (IDF 6th edition 2014), India has 65.1 million diabetic patients with 34.5 million males and 30.6 million females in the age group of 20-79 years.
He said that factors responsible for increase in diabetes are unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, harmful use of alcohol, obesity, tobacco use and others.