Parliament Question: Diagnostic facilities in PHCs and SHCs

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2280 TOBE ANSWERED ON31st JULY,2026 DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES IN PHCs AND SHCs 2280.SHRIJAGADISH SHETTAR: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government has taken any measures to overcome the issues concerning Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Sub-Health Centres (SHCs), critical and infrastructure deficits, severe shortage of medicalspecialist andlackof diagnostic facilitiesinthe country; and (b) if so, the detailsthereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) & (b): Public Health is a State subject. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare services and to promote disease prevention, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission (NHM). Government of India provides approval for the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & availableresources. Health Dynamics of India (HDI), is an annual publication, based on healthcare administrative data reported by States/UTs. Details of availability of doctors, nurses, other healthcare personnel and health infrastructure across the country, State/UT-wise, may be accessed through the HMIS portal underPublications at the following linkof HDI 2023-24: https://hmis.mohfw.gov.in Through 1.86 lakh AAMs, comprehensive primary healthcare is provided by strengthening Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). These AAMs provide preventive, promotive, rehabilitative and curative care for an expanded range of services encompassingreproductive and childhealthcareservices, Communicable diseases, Non-communicable diseases andotherhealthissues. PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), launched with an outlay of Rs. 64,180 crore, focuses on developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the country. PM-ABHIM aims to support for infrastructure development for SHCs, Urban AAMs, Support for Block Public Health Units (BPHUs), Integrated District Public Health Laboratories (IPHL) and Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCB). The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) had recommended grants through Local Governments for specific components of the health sectors. The Government of India has taken number of initiatives in the form of incentives and honorarium to the medical professionals for encouraging better service delivery in rural and remote areasacross the country, which include: i. Hard Area Allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas so that they find it attractive toserve inpublic healthfacilitiesinsuch areas. ii. States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategiessuch as“YouQuote We Pay”. iii. Non-monetary incentives such as preferential admission in postgraduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also beenintroducedunderNHM. iv. Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists such as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) and Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills(LSAS). Under Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, Government of India provides financial support to States/UTs for essential pathological and radiological diagnostic services at all public health facilities upto District level. This includes support for 14 tests at Sub Health Centre- Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (SHC-AAMs), 63 tests at Primary Health Centre- Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (PHC-AAMs), 97 tests at Community Health Centres (CHCs), 111 tests at SubDistrict Hospitals (SDHs) and134tests at District Hospitals (DHs). To improve health services in public health facilities, the Government of India has laid down Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022. These standards include norms for services, infrastructure, human resources, diagnostics, equipment, medicines etc. NHM provides support to address these gaps, ensuring the reach and meeting of essential standards for these facilities. National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) have also been launched for all health facilities includingAAMs for animprovedservice delivery. *****