(a) whether the level of health care services in the remote rural areas of the hill districts in the country is below the national level;
(b) if so, whether any special package has been envisaged for strengthening the primary health care infrastructure in such areas; and
(c) if not, the measures proposed to ensure that geographically scattered rural areas are covered by the primary health care institutions as per the norms defined for general public for the purpose in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI N.T. SHANMUGAM)
(a)&(b) Hilly terrain, poor transportation and communication, as well as distances affect the outreach of health services in remote, hilly and rural areas. In view of these constraints, the population norms for the establishment of Primary Health Care Institutions, have been relaxed as follows :
Institutions Population Norms(c) Apart from above measure, the National Population Policy 2000 envisages strengthening of Primary Health Care Infrastructure with more focussed attention to under-served segments of the population.
Plan Tribal/ Areas Hilly Areas
Sub-Centres 5000 3000 PHC 30000 20000 CHC 120000 80000