Parliament Question: Gaps in Primary Healthcare Services

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1066 TO BE ANSWERED ON24.07.2026 GAPSIN PRIMARYHEALTHCARE SERVICES 1066.SHRIZIAUR REHMAN: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government is aware of the increasing pressure on public health infrastructure due to rising disease burden, shortage of specialists and gaps in primary healthcare services across the country; and (b) if so, the details of the steps taken and proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen healthcare facilities, improve service delivery and ensure accessible and affordable healthcarefor all citizens inthe country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a)to(b): The details regarding specialists across the country can be accessed at the following linkof HDI 2023-24: https://www.mohfw-dohfw.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/05/57202cf30629539e4d0fb0a2f700ac 62.pdf Health is a State subject. The primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system, including public health infrastructure and gaps in primary healthcare services lies with the respective State/UT Governments. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system and to promote disease prevention in rural areas 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) asper norms& available resources. States/ UTs are to ensure availability of HR by creatingadequatenumber of regularposts asperthe IndianPublicHealthStandards(IPHS) in the long run and using NHM posts in the short to medium term to fill critical gaps. The NHM supplements the regular human resources by filling up the gaps in human resources insecondary andprimarycare facilities(District Hospital andbelow) asperIPHS. The National Health Mission (NHM) provides support for improvement in health infrastructure, availability of adequate human resources in health facilities, to improve availability, affordability and accessibility to quality health care especially for the poor and vulnerable sections inurban,rural, andtribal/hillyareas. A total of 1.86 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) have been established and operationalized in the country, which deliver expanded range of comprehensive primary healthcare services encompassing preventive, promotive, palliative, rehabilitative, and curative care.National Free Drugs Service initiative and Free diagnostic Service has been rolled out to ensure availability of essential drugs and diagnostic facilities and reduce out of pocketexpenditure of the patientsvisiting public healthfacilities. The various other initiatives carried out under NHM by the Government of India for enhancing the affordability of healthcare in the country are National Ambulance Services, Mobile Medical Units, ASHAs, 24 x 7 Services and First Referral Facilities, PrimeMinister's National Dialysis Programme, various activities under Reproductive & Child Health, Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy, TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and Universal Immunization programme. With the aim of ensuring and enhancing the quality of healthcare services, National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) have been launched for all health facilitiesincluding AAMs. *****