Lok Sabha Question No. 3548 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Healthcare Infrastructure in Tribal Areas of Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri P V Midhun Reddy

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3548 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

## HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TRIBALAREAS OF ANDHRAPRADESH

## †3548. SHRI P V MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government to improve healthcare infrastructure in tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the Eastern Ghats region;

(b) the number of telemedicine centers established in these areas during the last five years; and

(c) whether the Government has any plan to increase the number of trained healthcare professionals from tribal communities and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a): National Health Mission (NHM) envisages universal access to equitable, affordable and quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs by supporting the States/UTs in providing financial and technical support for accessible, affordable and quality healthcare, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections in urban, rural, and tribal/hilly areas.

Under the NHM, there is a relaxation in norms for tribal areas across the country including Andhra Pradesh for addressing the need-based intervention in terms of healthcare infrastructure and human resources, which is as follows:

i. The population norms for setting up health facilities in tribal areas have been relaxed from 5,000, 30,000 and 1,20,000 to 3000, 20,000 and 80,000 for setting up of Sub Health Centre (SHC), Primary Health Centre (PHC) and Community Health Centre (CHC) respectively in tribal and hilly areas;

ii. Against the norm of one ASHA per 1000 population in normal areas, one ASHA is permitted per habitation in Tribal/hilly and difficult areas; and iii. Against the norm of 2 Mobile Medical Units (MMU) per district in plains, 4 MMUs per district are permitted in tribal/ hilly/ inaccessible/ remote and hard to reach areas.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), launched on 15th November, 2023 by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), further relaxation in NHM norms has been provided up to 10 MMUs per district with Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) areas. Norms have been relaxed for one additional ANM for each Multi Purpose Centre (MPC) constructed by MoTA. Under PM-JANMAN, 141 MMUs are operational in Andhra Pradesh for providing basic health services in tribal areas.

Through 30,341 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) including 131 in Andhra Pradesh, operational in tribal areas, preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services are provided which are universal, free, and closer to the community.

In the State of Andhra Pradesh, AIIMS has been established at Mangalagiri in Guntur district under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Besides under 'Upgradation of Government medical colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks' component of PMSSY, a total of 03 projects have been approved and completed in Andhra Pradesh in Government Medical Colleges at Tirupati, Vijayawada and Anantapur districts.

Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals' with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, 03 medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh at Piduguralla, Paderu and Machilipatnam have been approved.

PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India with an amount of Rs.64,180 crore. The measures under the PMABHIM focus on developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels, primary, secondary and tertiary, to prepare health systems in responding effectively to the current and future pandemics /disasters. Total amount of Rs.1271.80 crore has been approved under PM-ABHIM for the State of Andhra Pradesh for FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.

The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through Local Governments for specific components of the health sector to the tune of Rs.70,051 crore and the same have been accepted by the Union Government. These grants for health through Local Governments will be spread over five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 and will facilitate strengthening of health system at the grass-root level. Total amount of Rs.2601.32 crore has been allocated under FC-XV health grant for the State of Andhra Pradesh for FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.

(b): As on 28th February 2025, a total of 11,386 AAMs (Spokes) have been established and connected to 1209 Hubs providing eSanjeevani telemedicine facility in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

(c): As informed by Government of Andhra Pradesh, there is a provision for reservation of vacancies within scheduled areas in favour of local tribes.

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