Lok Sabha Question No. 2140 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Effect of Floods on Healthcare Service
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2140 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## EFFECT OF FLOODS ON HEALTHCARE SERVICE

## 2140 MD. RAKIBULHUSSAIN:

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

- (a) whether the occurrence of floods and erosion have adversely affected healthcare service delivery in the State of Assam;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the damage caused to health centres in the said State during the recent flood events;
- (d) the amount of funds allocated and released by the Union Government for repair, restoration and strengthening of the affected health facilities in the State; and
- (e) the long-term mitigation strategy proposed by the Union Government to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services during floods in the country?

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

- (a ) to (e) Floods have direct and indirect impact on healthcare service delivery due to their impact on healthcare facilities and a surge in healthcare needs of affected communities.

As communicated by the State Government of Assam, year-wise details of health facilities damaged/ affected due to floods are as follows:

|   S. No. | Year    |   No. of health facilities |
|----------|---------|----------------------------|
|        1 | 2021-22 |                         03 |
|        2 | 2022-23 |                        279 |
|        3 | 2023-24 |                          0 |
|        4 | 2024-25 |                         32 |
|        5 | 2025-26 |                         23 |

'Public Health' is a State subject and States have primary responsibility in dealing with natural disasters as well as to mitigate and respond to public health impact of such disasters. Any disaster relief and response as well as recovery and reconstruction needs are under the mandate of concerned State Government with provisioning of funds under respective State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF). Central Government, supplements efforts of State Governments through National Disaster Response Funds (NDRF) as per their needs assessment.

Central Water Commission (CWC) provides flood forecasting as one of the cost effective flood mitigation measures to minimize loss of lives. Flood Plain Zoning is pursued by CWC, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (RD & GR) with State governments for implementation as long term mitigation strategy to ensure uninterrupted essential services in flood affected area.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has developed and shared with all States/UTs, a template for Crisis Management Plan to mitigate public health risks due to disasters. As informed by the State Government of Assam, a disaster management plan of State Health Department is already in place to ensure continuity of services.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also issued a comprehensive 'Public Health Guidelines for Flood Events' which provides details on common public health effects due to floods, rapid need assessment, disease surveillance during and after flood with particular focus on water and food borne diseases; vectorborne diseases, and water, sanitation issues etc. Further, this Ministry is undertaking capacity building of district level health officials to augment preparedness and response capacities to public health emergencies, including disasters like floods.

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