Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 4th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is strengthening 24×7 emergency and public healthcare services across India by providing technical and financial support to States and Union Territories under the National Health Mission. As of June 26, 2026, 100% of public healthcare facilities have been assessed via the IPHS Digital Toolkit, with 64% of facilities scoring above 50%. The initiative focuses on achieving Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), enhancing maternal care, and reducing out-of-pocket expenditures through standardized monitoring and free service initiatives.
Key Points / Main Content
Assessment and Monitoring Framework
IPHS Digital Toolkit: An open-source toolkit and web-based dashboard were launched on June 28, 2024, to facilitate self-assessment by all health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs).
Real-Time Data: The dashboard monitors compliance with IPHS 2022 standards, offering real-time updates to enable data-driven decision-making and timely gap identification.
Assessment Status: As of June 26, 2026, all public healthcare facilities have completed assessments; 64% achieved a score exceeding 50%.
Administrative and Financial Support
Jurisdictional Responsibility: While public health is a state subject, the Union Ministry provides support based on Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) submitted by States/UTs.
Approval Process: The Government of India issues approvals via Record of Proceedings (RoPs) in accordance with available resources and established norms.
Facility Requirements: States/UTs are tasked with ensuring Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) possess adequate staff, equipment, and medicines.
Service Delivery and Infrastructure
Emergency and Rural Care: Efforts to strengthen 24×7 emergency services and First Referral Units (FRUs) include infrastructure upgrades, human resource engagement, and biomedical equipment maintenance.
Free Service Initiatives: The "Free Diagnostics Service Initiative" and "Free Drugs Service Initiative" aim to reduce community out-of-pocket costs.
Diagnostic Scaling: Free pathological and radiological tests are provided at varying levels: 14 tests at Sub Centers, 63 at PHCs, 97 at CHCs, 111 at Sub District Hospitals, and 134 at District Hospitals.
Maternal Healthcare
Obstetric Care: Comprehensive maternal services are supported under the National Health Mission, including antenatal care, institutional deliveries, and emergency obstetric care (e.g., Caesarean sections).
Safety Programs: Initiatives such as Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) and Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) are implemented to ensure safe motherhood and reduce neonatal and maternal mortality.
Impact Analysis
States and Union TerritoriesImpact: They hold the primary responsibility for strengthening public healthcare systems and ensuring facilities meet IPHS standards.
Action Required: Must develop and submit Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and ensure PHCs and CHCs are fully functional with necessary staff and supplies.
Public Healthcare FacilitiesImpact: Facilities are now subject to rigorous self-assessment and real-time monitoring via the IPHS ODK toolkit and dashboard.
Action Required: Conduct regular self-assessments, identify infrastructure or service gaps, and work toward exceeding the 50% IPHS compliance score.
Rural and Underserved CommunitiesImpact: Benefit from increased access to 24×7 emergency services, maternal care, and free diagnostic/drug services.
Action Required: Utilize available free services at local public health facilities to reduce personal healthcare expenditures.
Key Entities Referenced
National Health Mission (NHM): The primary framework providing technical and financial support to States/UTs for strengthening public healthcare systems in rural and underserved areas.
Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS): A set of uniform standards used to assess and ensure the quality of infrastructure, staff, and services across public health facilities.
IPHS Digital Toolkit: An open-source toolkit and web-based dashboard used for real-time monitoring and self-assessment of health facilities' compliance with IPHS standards.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs): Primary healthcare facilities established to provide comprehensive healthcare services closer to the community.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): A national initiative under NHM providing free maternal and neonatal healthcare services to ensure safe motherhood and reduce mortality.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Measures taken to strengthen 24×7 emergency
services
As on 26 June 2026, 100% of Public Healthcare Facilities
Assessed Through IPHS Digital Toolkit; 64% Score Above
50%
प्रव तथ: 04 AUG 2026 4:10PM by PIB Delhi
Public health and Hospitals are a state subject. The primary responsibility of strengthening public
healthcare system lies with the respective States/Union Territories. The Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/ Union Territories to strengthen the public
healthcare system in rural and underserved areas as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), based on
the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health
Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings
(RoPs) as per norms & available resources. States/ Union Territories are expected to ensure Primary
Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) are functional with adequate staff,
equipment, medicines and diagnostic facilities as per Indian Public Health Standards.
The details regarding doctors, specialists and paramedical staff in rural health facilities across
States/Union Territories can be accessed at the following link of HDI 2023-24:
https://www.mohfwdohfw.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/05/57202cf30629539e4d0fb0a2f700ac62.pdf
The Ministry has developed an open-source toolkit and a web-based dashboard (www.iphs.mohfw.gov.in)
launched under IPHS on 28th June 2024 to facilitate self- assessment by all levels of facilities including
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. The IPHS Dashboard is designed to monitor public health facilities'
compliance with the IPHS 2022 standards and offers real-time updates, enabling oversight and data-driven
decision-making to identify gaps and facilitate timely interventions.
As on 26th June, 2026, 100% of public healthcare facilities have been assessed through IPHS ODK
toolkit. Out of total assessed facilities 64% of Health facilities have scored above 50% score.
Further, for strengthening 24x7 emergency services, obstetric care and diagnostic facilities in underserved
rural areas, the Ministry’s support includes engagement of human resources, provision of essential drugs,
diagnostics and medical equipment, infrastructure strengthening, establishment of Ayushman Arogya
Mandirs (AAMs), ensuring 24×7 services and First Referral Units (FRUs), implementation of the Free
Diagnostics Service Initiative, Free Drugs Service Initiative, Biomedical Equipment Maintenance &
Management Programme, National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) and other quality improvement
initiatives.
This Ministry also supports ‘Free Diagnostics Service Initiative’ programme under NHM with the aim to
provide accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostics services closer to the
community, which in turn reduces the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE). Diagnostics services areprovided free of cost at all levels of public health facilities (14 tests at Sub Centers, 63 at Primary Health
Centers, 97 at Community Health Centres, 111 test at Sub District Hospitals and 134 tests at District
Hospitals).
For strengthening of Obstetric Care, comprehensive maternal healthcare services are supported under the
National Health Mission (NHM), including antenatal care, institutional deliveries, skilled birth attendance,
basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care (including Caesarean section where indicated),
postnatal care, referral transport, management of obstetric complications, and free maternal healthcare
services under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) and Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), with the
objective of ensuring safe motherhood and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri. Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written
reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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SR
HFW/PQ- Measures taken to strengthen 24×7 emergency services /4 August 2026/3
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