Lok Sabha Question No. 279 (STARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Health Care Facilities in Rural Areas
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sanatan Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 279 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH AUGUST, 2024

## HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN RURALAREAS

## †*279 SHRI SANATAN PANDEY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether in spite of various schemes being implemented by the Government the basic healthcare facilities such as medicines for cold and fever and facilities of blood tests and other things, x-ray and ultrasound etc. are still not available in the rural areas and the patients have to travel 8 to 10 km. to avail these facilities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to set up healthcare centres equipped with all the said basic facilities in each Gram Sabha along with at least one doctor/one pathologist and one pharmacist;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the manner in which the Government is likely to ensure basic healthcare facilities for every citizen?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 279 FOR 9 TH AUGUST, 2024

(a) to (e) The healthcare system of the country involves a three-tier system with Sub Health Centre (Rural), Primary Health Centre (Urban and Rural) and Community Health Centre (Urban and Rural) as the three pillars of Primary Health Care System in India.

As per established norms, in rural areas, a Sub Health Centre for a population of 5,000 (in plain) and 3000 (in hilly and tribal area), a Primary Health Centre for a population of 30,000 (in plains) and 20,000 (in hilly and tribal areas) and Community Health Centre for a population of 1,20,000 (in plain) and 80,000 (in hilly and tribal area) is suggested. Further, District Hospital (DH), Sub-District Hospital (SDH) and First Referral Unit provide secondary care services for rural & urban area.

A total of 1,73,881 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established and operationalized, till 31.07.2024, by transforming existing Sub-Health Centres (SHC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC) in rural and urban areas to deliver the expanded range of comprehensive primary healthcare services with complete 12 package of services that includes preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services which are universal, free, and closer to the community.

To ensure availability of essential drugs and reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) of the patients visiting the public health facilities, Government has rolled out the Free Drugs Service Initiative under NHM. Under this scheme, there is a provision of financial support to States/UTs for 106 drugs at SHC level, 172 at PHC level, 300 at CHC level, 318 at SDH level and 381 drugs at district Hospitals.

This Ministry supports ' Free Diagnostics Service Initiative ' programme under NHM with the aim to provide accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostics services closer to the community which in turn reduces the OOPE. It encompasses free laboratory services, free Tele Rediology Services and free CT Scan services. Under this scheme, there is a provision of 14 tests at Sub Centers, 63 at Primary Health Centers, 97 at Community Health Centres, 111 tests at Sub District Hospitals and 134 tests at District Hospitals.

The teleconsultation services, available at operational AAMs, enables people to access the specialist services closer to their homes addressing concerns of physical accessibility, saving cost to care, shortage of service providers and to ensure continuum of care. Total teleconsultation conducted at Ayushman Arogya Mandir including Ayushman Melas are 26.39 cr as on 31.07.2024.