Question : National Rural Health Mission

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

(a) the present status of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the country and its achievements in each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) the condition of primary health centres in rural areas in the absence of trained doctors or staff posted there and lack of availability of medicine and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has made any assessment of progress in providing public health infrastructure after launching the NRHM and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Rajasthan;

(d) whether the Government is aware that there is an acute shortage of basic facilities in rural areas of the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government for making available better health services in the Government hospitals of rural areas?

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. 190* FOR 28TH JULY, 2017

(a) National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is now a sub-Mission under the overarching National Health Mission (NHM), along with National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as the other sub-Mission. It is implemented in all the States/UTs in the country. The Achievements for NHM are given at Annexure-I.
(b) The status of availability of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in rural areas is at Annexure – II. Status of availability of doctors and other staff at PHCs is at Annexure-III. Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the primary responsibility to ensure availability of trained doctors, staff and medicine in public health facilities lies with the respective State/UT Governments. Currently, information about availability of medicines at PHCs is not maintained centrally. However, all States have notified Free Drug Policy for public health facilities.
(c) As per Rural Health Statistics (RHS) 2016, the health care infrastructure has increased after launch of NRHM in April 2005. The number of public health facilities in rural areas State/UT-wise including Rajasthan during 2005 and 2016 is at Annexure -IV.
(d) Status of infrastructure and basic health facilities in public health centres in rural areas is at Annexure-V.
(e) Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the primary responsibility to provide healthcare services to its people lies with the respective State/UT Governments. However, under the National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems.
Details about some of the key steps taken to improve health services in government hospitals in rural areas is at Annexure-VI.