Lok Sabha Question No. 813 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Strengthening of Rural Healthcare Facilities
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 813 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## STRENGTHENING OF RURALHEALTHCARE FACILITIES

## 813. SMT PRATIMAMONDAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking any measures to ensure adequate funding for the National Health Mission (NHM) to address the reported 66% shortfall in male health workers at sub-centres and the 79.5% shortage of specialists at Community Health Centres (CHCs), if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the manner in which the Government plans to bridge the infrastructure gaps in rural healthcare facilities, where shortfalls in sub-centres, Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) persist despite increasing allocations to schemes like Ayushman Bharat?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) &(b): Under the National Health Mission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system including recruitment of health care professionals in rural areas and to bridge the infrastructure gaps in rural healthcare facilities based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides financial approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. The details are available in public domain at:

https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744

Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging doctors to practice in rural and underserved areas of the country:

-  Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such areas.
-  Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area.
-  Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.
-  States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as 'You Quote We Pay'.
-  Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
-  Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving improvement in health outcomes.

In addition to the National Health Mission, Government of India has allocated the following funds to bridge the infrastructure gaps in rural healthcare facilities:

-  Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to provide better access to health in rural areas by i) Strengthening of Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities for early detection of diseases; ii) Addition of new critical carerelated beds at district level hospitals; iii) Support for Block Public Health Units (BPHU) in 11 high focus States; and iv) Integrated district public health laboratories in all districts.
-  The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the health sector and spread over the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 to facilitate strengthening of health system at the grass-root level.