Lok Sabha Question No. 4615 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Poor Health Infrastructure in Dhubri
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Md. Rakibul Hussain

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4615 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 th MARCH 2026

## POOR HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IN DHUBRI

## 4615. MD. RAKIBULHUSSAIN: SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

(a) whether the Government is aware that the public health infrastructure in the State of Assam is grossly inadequate to cater to its large and predominantly rural population;

(b) if so, the number of public health facilities sanctioned in Assam during the last five years, including District Hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Urban Community Health Centres (UCHCs), Maternity Homes, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs), Additional Primary Health Centres (APHCs), Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) and other facilities above Sub-Centre level but below block level, category-wise and year-wise and especially Dhubri district;

(c) the number of such facilities that are operational and providing 24×7 services in the said State, separately for rural and urban areas during the last five years, category-wise and year wise;

(d) the number of operational as compared to sanctioned PHCs and SHCs in the said State as on date, district-wise;

(e) whether it is a fact that several health facilities are functioning from dilapidated buildings lacking basic amenities such as clean drinking water, electricity and sanitation, if so, the details thereof;

(f) the number of PHCs and SHCs upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in the State during the last five years, year-wise;

(g) whether any sanctioned health facilities in Assam remain non-operational or partially functional due to infrastructure or manpower shortages and if so, the steps taken to address the same; and

(h) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to upgrade health infrastructure in the said district within a defined timeline?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Public Health and hospital being a state subject, the primary responsibility for planning, implementing, maintaining and to set up adequate number of healthcare facilities as per requirement is of that State Government. Under the National Health Mission, financial and technical support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare system based on proposals received from

States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plan within their resource envelop. The upgradation of medical facilities and deployment of additional healthcare professionals as per requirement may be proposed in PIP by the states including rural population.

Government of India is continuously working to strengthen public health infrastructure for cater to the large and predominantly rural population across country including Assam. Various initiatives under the National Health Mission and State Government programmes are being implemented to expand and upgrade health infrastructure across the State.

As per the information provided by the State Government of Assam, the number of Health Facilities sanctioned in Assam including Dhubri district during last five years is given at Annexure.

(c) & (d): The Government of India continues to support the State Government through the National Health Mission for construction of new health facilities, upgradation of existing facilities, operationalization of sanctioned facilities, strengthening of diagnostic and emergency services, and addressing infrastructure and manpower gaps in the State, based on proposals submitted by the State in the Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) and as per the GOI norms.

As per the information provided by State Government of Assam, Public Health Facilities across Assam are operational and providing services. Several higher facilities such as First Referral such as First Referral Units (FRUs) provide 24*7 emergency obstetric and newborn care services.

Further State Government of Assam informed that most of the facilities are operational, and several have been converted into Health and Wellness Centres (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) to expand service delivery. The status of public healthcare facilities in Assam, across both rural and urban areas, includes 14 Medical Colleges, 24 District Hospitals, 17 Sub-District Hospitals, 202 Community Health Centres (CHCs) in rural areas, and 27 CHCs in urban areas.

As per Health Dynamics of India (HDI) 2022-23, details of health facilities functioning in the Rural / Urban areas of the country across all the States/ UTs including Assam with available resources, can be accessed at the following link:

https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastructure %20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23\_RE%20%281%29.pdf

- (e) & (f): As per the information provided by State Government of Assam, the State periodically assesses the condition of health infrastructure. Necessary maintenance, renovation, and infrastructure strengthening works are undertaken in a phased manner under State Plan, NHM funds and other government programmes. Further, the State Government of Assam informed that under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) initiative, a large number of health facilities have been upgraded to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC). The PHCs and SHCs upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) in the State durning the last five years is given below:

| Financial Year   |   Numberof SHCs, PHCs and UPHCsupgraded toAAMs |
|------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| 2020-21          |                                           2211 |
| 2021-22          |                                           3493 |
| 2022-23          |                                           4418 |
| 2023-24          |                                           4692 |
| 2024-25          |                                           4962 |

(g) & (h): As per the information provided by State Government of Assam that the State has taken following measures to address manpower shortages or infrastructure limitations:

-  Recruitment and deployment of Medical Officers, Staff Nurses, and Community Health Officers.
-  Upgradation of facilities into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
-  Teleconsultation through e-Sanjeevani
-  Strengthening outreach services such as Mobile Medical Units and Boat Clinics

Further, the State Government of Assam has taken following steps to upgrade health infrastructure in the State:

-  Upgradation of Sub Centres and PHCs into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
-  Strengthening Maternal and Child Health Services
-  Expansion of diagnostic services (CT scan, X-ray, laboratory)
-  Establishment of SNCU, NBSU, and newborn care units
-  Deployment of Mobile Medical Units, Boat Clinics, and ambulance services
-  Implementation of digital health services such as e-Sanjeevani telemedicine

These initiatives aim to strengthen primary healthcare, improve accessibility, and enhance quality of health services in rural and underserved areas

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## Number of Health Facilities sanctioned in Assam including Dhubri district from 2021-22 to 2025-26

|   S. N o. | Name of Health Institution       | Sanctioned under the Scheme   |   Financial Year (2021-22) |   Financial Year (2022-23) |   Financial Year (2023-24) |   Financia l Year (2024-25) |   Financia l Year (2025-26) |
|-----------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|         1 | District Hospital                | NHMRoP                        |                          0 |                          0 |                          0 |                           0 |                           0 |
|         2 | Sub District Hospital            | NHMRoP                        |                          0 |                          1 |                          0 |                           1 |                           0 |
|         3 | Community                        | NHMRoP                        |                          4 |                          1 |                          0 |                           0 |                           0 |
|         3 | Health Centre                    | XV-FC                         |                          0 |                          2 |                          0 |                          15 |                           2 |
|         4 | Urban Community Health Centre    | NHMRoP                        |                          0 |                          0 |                          0 |                           0 |                           0 |
|         5 | Maternity Homes                  | NHMRoP                        |                          2 |                          1 |                          0 |                           1 |                           0 |
|         6 | Primary Health                   | NHMRoP                        |                         13 |                          1 |                          0 |                           0 |                           0 |
|         6 | Centre                           | XV-FC                         |                          9 |                          1 |                         28 |                          21 |                          20 |
|         7 | Urban Primary Health Centre      | NHMRoP                        |                          0 |                          0 |                          0 |                           3 |                           0 |
|         8 | Additional Primary Health Centre | NHMRoP                        |                          0 |                          0 |                          0 |                           0 |                           0 |
|         9 | Sub Health                       | XV-FC                         |                          9 |                          0 |                         95 |                          82 |                         213 |
|         9 | Centre                           | PM-ABHI M                     |                        384 |                        384 |                          0 |                           0 |                           0 |