Disease prevention and basic health services.
Explanation
Under the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Municipalities are codified in the Twelfth Schedule (Article 243W) of the Indian Constitution. The functions of a Municipal Corporation are generally classified into obligatory (mandatory) and discretionary functions. Public health and sanitation constitute a core obligatory function of urban local bodies.
Option Analysis
- Running medical colleges only. is incorrect: While some large Municipal Corporations (e.g., in Mumbai or Delhi) may run medical colleges, this is generally considered a discretionary function or a specialized responsibility, not the primary public health mandate applicable to all corporations.
- Disease prevention and basic health services. is correct: Public health, sanitation, conservancy, and solid waste management are explicitly listed as Item 6 in the Twelfth Schedule. The primary duty of a Municipal Corporation involves preventing the spread of communicable diseases, maintaining sanitation, controlling vectors (like mosquitoes), and providing basic primary healthcare services through dispensaries and health centers.
- Manufacturing medicines. is incorrect: The manufacturing of medicines is an industrial activity typically regulated by the Central and State governments (e.g., under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act) and undertaken by pharmaceutical companies or public sector undertakings, not local urban bodies.
- Licensing private doctors. is incorrect: The licensing and registration of medical practitioners are regulatory functions performed by statutory bodies such as the State Medical Councils or the National Medical Commission, not by Municipal Corporations.
Key Takeaway: The Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution mandates public health, sanitation, and disease control as fundamental responsibilities of Municipalities to ensure urban hygiene and preventive healthcare.