(a) whether the Government provides healthcare facilities to the poorest sections
of the society in rural areas especially to the SC/ST people;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this direction especially for the SC/ST
people in each State including Andhra Pradesh?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE(SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) to (b) : Yes Madam. The primary health care services in rural areas are provided through a
network of 145272 Sub-centres, 22370 Primary Health Centres and 4045 Community Health Centres as
on March 2007. The services being provided through the above centres are available to all sections
of population including SC/ST people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, sex etc.
(c) National Rural Health Mission[NRHM] was launched in year 2005, to provide accessible,
affordable and quality health care to rural population, especially to the vulnerable section
including SC/ST people. Financial assistance is given to the States/UTs including Andhra Pradesh
for establishment of new Health Centres as well as for upgradation of existing Health Centres.The
State/UT Governments assess their requirement and reflect the same in their Annual Programme
Implementation Plan[PIP] under National Rural Health Mission[NRHM]. Thereafter funds are released
to them as per the approval of National Programme Coordination Committee [NPCC].