Question : PHCs-CHCs

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

(a) the number of Primary Health Centres (P HCs)/Community Health Centres (CHCs) running in the country, State/UT-wise including the tribal areas;

(b) whether the Government is contemplating to release funds for setting up PHCs in the States;

(c) if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh;

(d) the amount of funds proposed to be released under this scheme;

(e) the number of people visiting PHCs and sub-centres in the rural areas; and

(f) whether PHCs in the country fulfil the infrastructural requirements as per the Indian public health standards, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): As per Rural Health Statistics (RHS) 2017, the number of Primary Health Centres (PHCs)/Community Health Centres (CHCs), functioning in the country, State/UT-wise, including the tribal areas is given at Annexure-I.

(b) to (d): Public Health being a State subject, the primary responsibility to provide health care services to the citizens as per requirements lies with the respective State/UT Governments. However, under National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is extended to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare system for provision of accessible, affordable and quality health care to all the citizens based on proposals submitted by the States / UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans.




Funds are released to the States/UTs pool-wise and not activity-wise. As such, there is no separate release of funds for setting up of PHCs. The details of funds approved during 2015-16 to 2017-18 for Hospital Strengthening and new construction/renovation and setting up of PHCs and CHCs is given at Annexure-II.

(e): The number of people visiting PHCs and sub-centres in the rural areas during 2016-17, is given at Annexure-III.

(f): As per Rural Health Statistics (RHS) 2017, the number of PHCs functioning as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms, States/ UT wise, is given at Annexure-IV. Primary responsibility of bringing up facilities to IPHS norms is that of State/ UT Governments. Under NHM, financial and technical support is extended to States, interalia, for strengthening facilities to IPHS.

The reasons for non- fulfillment of infrastructure requirements as per IPHS norms are shortages of skilled Human Resource and lack of public investment in health care.