Parliament Question: Availability of Essential Medicines in Government Healthcare Institutions

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2237 TO BE ANSWERED ON31STJULY2026 AVAILABILITYOFESSENTIALMEDICINES IN GOVERNMENTHEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS 2237. SHRIMALAIYARASAND: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) the current status of availability of essential medicines and diagnostic facilities in Government healthcare institutions in rural areas of Tamil Nadu, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and district hospitals, district-wise including Kallakurichi Parliamentary Constituency; (b) the details of funds allocated, released and utilised under various Central health schemes for procurement of essential medicines strengthening of laboratories and improving diagnostic services inrural Tamil Nadu during the last five years; (c) whether the Government has assessed shortages, stock-outs or gaps in the availability of essential medicines, medical supplies and diagnostic facilities in rural healthcare centres of the said State andif so, the details threreof; and (d) the steps being taken by the Union Government to ensure uninterrupted availability of affordable medicines, essential diagnostics and quality healthcare services for rural populations, particularly inremote andunderserved areasof the said State? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) & (b): ‘Public Health’ and ‘Hospital’ are State subject and the responsibility for strengthening of healthcare system including availability of essential medicines and diagnostic facilities in Government healthcare institutions lieswith respective State/UTGovernments. Under National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to States/UTs tostrengthen theirhealthcaresystem based onproposals receivedfrom States/UTs intheir ProgrammeImplementation Plan(PIP)within theirresource envelope. Each year, PIP is formulated by every State/ UT based on district and State-level planning processes, encompassing all activities and expenditures under NHM. State-wise fund allocationcanbe accessed at: https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744As per the information provided by the State Government of Tamil Nadu, the drugs were categorized in to Essential Drug List (EDL) and Speciality Drug List (SDL) wherein 408 EDL and400SDLare availableinTamil Nadu Medical ServicesCorporation (TNMSC) warehouses. Under CentrallySponsoredScheme (CSS)componentof PradhanMantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) for the State of Tamil Nadu, Administrative approvals have been accorded to the State for five years (i.e. FY2021-22 to 2025-26) for an amount of Rs.74.44 Cr. for construction and strengthening of 38 Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs) to strengthen diagnostic infrastructure byenhancingaccesstoqualityessential diagnostic services. Under Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) for the State of Tamil Nadu, Rs.301.07 Cr. has been approved from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 for strengthening of Block Public Health Unit (BPHU) and Rs.301.07 Cr. has been released during the scheme period for establishment and strengthening of 386BPHU, tostrengthen disease surveillance andprovide diagnostic support. (c) and (d): As per the information provided by the State Government of Tamil Nadu, there is no shortage/stock-outs of drugs identified so far. Also, action is being taken to include certain drugs in the EDL. Under Integrated Essential Laboratory Services (IELS) periodic gap analysis of essential diagnostic investigations is carried out to assess the availability of diagnostic services across healthcare facilities as well as Stock availability and utilisation are continuously monitored through Drug Distribution andManagement System (DDMS) Portal. Further, Government of India supports the States in terms of drugs and diagnostics services through State PIP proposals under Free Drugs Services Initiative and Free Diagnostic ServicesInitiative everyyear. *****