**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the impact of floods on healthcare services in Assam, in response to Unstarred Question No. 2140 for the Lok Sabha, due on December 12, 2025. It provides data on damaged health facilities and outlines mitigation strategies implemented by the Union Government. The report also mentions relevant planning and action taken to ensure continuity of services.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Flood Impact on Healthcare:**
* Floods directly and indirectly affect healthcare service delivery by impacting facilities and increasing healthcare needs.
* **Damage Details (Assam):**
* 2021-22: 3 health facilities affected.
* 2022-23: 279 health facilities affected.
* 2023-24: 0 health facilities affected.
* 2024-25: 32 health facilities affected.
* 2025-26: 23 health facilities affected.
* **Mitigation and Support:**
* States are primarily responsible for dealing with natural disasters and public health impacts.
* The Union Government supplements State efforts through the National Disaster Response Funds (NDRF), and States use State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF).
* Central Water Commission (CWC) provides flood forecasting.
* CWC with Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (RD & GR) pursuing Flood Plain Zoning.
* **Planning and Guidelines:**
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has shared a Crisis Management Plan template with States/UTs.
* Assam has a disaster management plan in place for the State Health Department.
* Comprehensive 'Public Health Guidelines for Flood Events' have been issued.
* **Capacity Building:**
* Capacity building of district-level health officials is underway for emergency preparedness, including floods.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Assam:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for disaster relief, response, recovery, and reconstruction. Bears the brunt of public health impact due to floods.
* **Action Required:** Implement disaster management plans, use SDRF funds, and coordinate with Union Government for additional support.
**Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for developing and sharing disaster management plans and public health guidelines. Provides overall support and capacity building.
* **Action Required:** Continue supporting States through resource allocation, guidance, and capacity building programs.
**District-Level Health Officials:**
* **Impact:** Frontline responders during flood events, requiring preparedness and response capacities.
* **Action Required:** Participate in capacity building programs to augment emergency response skills.
**Affected Communities:**
* **Impact:** Experience healthcare service disruptions and increased healthcare needs due to floods.
* **Action Required:** Follow public health guidelines, seek timely medical assistance, and cooperate with relief efforts.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary central ministry responsible for developing and sharing the Crisis Management Plan and Public Health Guidelines mentioned in the document to mitigate health risks due to floods.
Assam: The State explicitly mentioned as being affected by floods and for which data on damaged health facilities is provided.
State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF): The fund managed by the State Government used to provide funds for disaster relief and response, as well as recovery and reconstruction needs
National Disaster Response Funds (NDRF): The central fund that supplements the efforts of State Governments through SDRF to address disaster relief and response.
Central Water Commission (CWC): Provides flood forecasting to mitigate loss of lives and pursues flood plain zoning.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2140
TO BE ANSWERED ON12.12.2025
EFFECTOFFLOODS ON HEALTHCARE SERVICE
2140 MD. RAKIBULHUSSAIN:
Will the Minister of HEALTH & FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the occurrence of floods and erosion have adversely affected healthcare service
deliveryinthe State of Assam;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof;
(c) the details of the damage caused to health centres in the said State during the recent flood
events;
(d) the amount of funds allocated and released by the Union Government for repair, restoration
andstrengthening of the affected healthfacilities inthe State;and
(e) the long-term mitigation strategy proposed by the Union Government to ensure uninterrupted
healthcareservices during floods inthe country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (e) Floods have direct and indirect impact on healthcare service delivery due to their
impactonhealthcare facilitiesanda surgein healthcareneedsof affected communities.
As communicated by the State Government of Assam, year-wise details of health facilities
damaged/affected due tofloodsare asfollows:
S.No. Year No. of healthfacilities
1 2021-22 03
2 2022-23 279
3 2023-24 0
4 2024-25 32
5 2025-26 23‘Public Health’ is a State subject and States have primary responsibility in dealing with natural
disasters as well as to mitigate and respond to public health impact of such disasters. Any
disaster relief and response as well as recovery and reconstruction needs are under the mandate
of concerned State Government with provisioning of funds under respective State Disaster
Response Funds (SDRF). Central Government, supplements efforts of State Governments
through National Disaster Response Funds(NDRF) aspertheir needsassessment.
Central Water Commission (CWC) provides flood forecasting as one of the cost effective flood
mitigation measures to minimize loss of lives. Flood Plain Zoning is pursued by CWC,
Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (RD & GR) with
State governments for implementation as long term mitigation strategy to ensure uninterrupted
essential services inflood affected area.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has developed and shared with all States/UTs, a template
for Crisis Management Plan to mitigate public health risks due to disasters. As informed by the
State Government of Assam, a disaster management plan of State Health Department is already
inplace toensure continuity of services.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also issued a comprehensive 'Public Health Guidelines
for Flood Events' which provides details on common public health effects due to floods, rapid
need assessment, disease surveillance during and after flood with particular focus on water and
food borne diseases; vector- borne diseases, and water, sanitation issues etc. Further, this
Ministry is undertaking capacity building of district level health officials to augment
preparedness and response capacities to public health emergencies, including disasters like
floods.
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