**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the response to Unstarred Question No. 2279 in the Lok Sabha, concerning critical care block development under the PM-ABHIM scheme in Bihar. The response clarifies fund allocation, infrastructure establishment plans, status of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), and referral linkages. The question was to be answered on 12.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PM-ABHIM Scheme:**
* The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
* The scheme has a total outlay of Rs. 64,180 Crores for FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
* **Fund Allocation for Bihar:**
* Rs. 3389.59 crore is provisioned for Bihar under the CSS component for the scheme period.
* This funding supports the establishment and strengthening of 2546 building-less SC-AAMs, 333 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs), 38 Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs), and 38 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs).
* Administrative approvals for Rs. 3109.33 crore have been accorded to Bihar for FY 2021-22 to 2025-26.
* **Sheohar District Hospital:**
* The state has not given administrative approval to establish a 50/100 bedded critical care/infectious-disease block under the PM-ABHIM CSS component in Sheohar district.
* **Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Tele-Consultations:**
* 93 HWCs are linked to tele-consultation services in the district.
* 2,48,237 tele-consultations have been provided through these centres from 2021 to 8 December 2025.
* **Referral System:**
* HWCs are linked to higher health facilities through a structured referral system.
* HWCs serve as the first point of contact, with patients referred to Primary Health Centres/Community Health Centres, then to District Hospitals, and finally to Medical Colleges/AIIMS/DMCH as needed.
* A formal referral mechanism is in place, including referral slips, referral registers, prior communication, and ambulance linkage.
* Receiving hospitals record and manage referred cases and provide back-referral/feedback to the initiating centre to ensure coordinated service delivery and continuity of care.
**Impact Analysis**
**State of Bihar:**
* **Impact:**
The State benefits from a significant allocation of funds to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure, including primary and critical care facilities.
* **Action Required:**
The State needs to utilize the allocated funds effectively for the establishment and strengthening of the planned health infrastructure.
**Sheohar District:**
* **Impact:**
The establishment of a critical care block at Sheohar District Hospital is yet to receive administrative approval.
* **Action Required:**
The State needs to evaluate the proposal for the establishment of critical care unit in Sheohar district Hospital.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) focused on health infrastructure.
Bihar: The state in India where the scheme is being implemented and which is the focus of the question.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The central ministry responsible for the PM-ABHIM scheme.
Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs): Primary healthcare facilities connected to tertiary hospitals via referral system.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2279
TO BE ANSWERED ON12.12.2025
CRITICALCARE BLOCK UNDER PM-ABHIM IN BIHAR
2279. SMT.LOVELYANAND:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has sanctioned any fund(s) under Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman
Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) to establish a 50–100 bed
criticalcare/infectious-disease block at Sheohar District Hospital in the State of Bihar and the
status andtimelinesfixed for the same;
(b) if so, the detailsof the approved cost, status andtimelinesfixedfor the same;
(c) the number of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) in the said district connected to
eSanjeevanialong with the totaltele-consultationscompleted inSheohardistrict till date;
(d) whether these HWCs are formally linked to tertiary hospitals (in DMCH
Muzaffarpur/AIIMS Patna)for specialist referralsandcontinuity of care;and
(e) if so, the details and the extent of such integration operationalised in the said district
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a)& (b): PradhanMantri AyushmanBharat HealthInfrastructureMission(PM-ABHIM)
is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with some Central Sector Components (CS) which
hasanoutlayof Rs. 64,180Crores for the scheme period (FY2021-22 toFY2025-26).
Under the CSS component of the scheme, an amount of Rs. 3389.59 crore is provisioned for
the State of Bihar during the scheme period for the establishment and strengthening of 2546
building-less SC-AAMs, 333 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs), 38 Integrated Public
HealthLabs(IPHLs), and38Critical Care Blocks(CCBs).
Administrative approvals have been accorded to the State of Bihar for a period of five years
(i.e., FY2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26) for an amount of Rs. 3109.33crore for the establishment and strengthening of 2546 building-less SC-AAMs, 158 Block
Public Health Units (BPHUs), 38 Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs), and 38 Critical
Care Blocks(CCBs), asperthe proposal submitted bythe State.
In Sheohardistrict, underPM-ABHIM CSS component,the state hasnot givenadministrative
approvaltoestablish 50/100bedded criticalcare/infectious-disease block.
(c): A total of 93 Health and Wellness Centres are linked to tele-consultation services.
From 2021 to 8 December 2025, 2,48,237 consultations have been provided through these
centres.
(d) & (e): As per the Referral Guidelines, the Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) are
linked to higher health facilities through a structured referral system. HWCs serve as the first
point of contact, and as per requirement, patients are referred from Health and Wellness
Centres to Primary Health Centre/Community Health Centre, from where, depending upon
the patient’s condition, referrals are made to District Hospitals and further to Medical
Colleges/AIIMS/DMCH for specialised care. Thistiered mechanism ensures timely access to
specialist services andcontinuity of care.
The integration is operationalised through a formal referral mechanism which
includes issuance of referral slips with clinical details, maintenance of referral registers at
both referring and receiving institutions, and prior communication with the receiving facility.
Patient transport including ambulance linkage is facilitated for referrals. The receiving
hospitals record and manage the referred cases in the Referral-In register and provide back-
referral/feedback to the initiating centre. This system ensures coordinated service delivery
across all levels of healthcare and supports continuity of treatment and follow-up at the
primarycare level.
****