Parliament Question: Gaps in Public Health Infrastructure

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION No. 5702 TO BE ANSWERED ON27THMARCH, 2026 GAPSIN PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE †5702. SHRIBHUMARE SANDIPANRAOASARAM: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government has taken note of the gaps in public health infrastructure, particularlyinthe rural andtribal districts of Maharashtra; (b) if so, the various steps being taken by the Government to address the shortage of doctors, specialists and medical equipments in Government hospitals and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) inthe said State; (c)the details of the Central financialassistance provided toMaharashtra underschemessuch asthe Pradhan Mantri-AyushmanBharat HealthInfrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) andthe National HealthMission (NHM) during the last three years; (d) whether the Government proposes to open new medical colleges or upgrade district hospitals inthe underserved areasof Maharashtra; and (e)if so, the detailsthereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (e): Public Health’ & ‘Hospitals’ are State subjects, hence, the primary responsibility of providing health infrastructure in all public health facilities of the country lies with respective State/UTGovernment. Health Dynamics of India (HDI) (Infrastructure & Human Resources), 2022-23 is an annual publication, based on healthcare administrative data reported by States/UTs. Details of availability and gaps in health infrastructure in the country, State/UT-wise including tribal districts of Maharashtra, maybe seen at the following linkof HDI 2022-23: https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastr ucture%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdf The National Health Mission (NHM) provides support for improvement in health infrastructure, human resources in health facilities, availability and accessibility to quality healthcare across the country including Maharashtra. Technical and financial support is provided to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under NHM. Approval is accorded to the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & 1availableresources. The Government of India provides incentives and honorarium to medical professionals to improve service delivery in rural and remote areas, including Maharashtra. Under NHM, measures such as Hard Area Allowance for specialist doctors, flexibility to States to offer negotiable salariesincluding “YouQuote We Pay”, non-monetaryincentives like preferential admission in postgraduate courses and multi-skilling of doctors through training in Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) and Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills(LSAS) are supported toaddress the shortage of specialists insuch areas. Central release under Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM- ABHIM) and NHM to the State of Maharashtra during the last three years is given in Annexure. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals' with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college.The fund sharing mechanism betweenthe Centre and State Governmentsis inthe ratioof 90:10for North Eastern andSpecial CategoryStates, and 60:40for others. Under the Scheme, allthe envisaged157Government medicalcolleges have already been approved in three phases in the country including 2 medical college in Gondia and Nandubar district in Maharashtra and up-gradation of 11 medical college were approved inMaharashtra. ***** 2Annexure CentralreleaseunderPM-ABHIM andNHM from FY2022-23 to FY2024-25 to Maharashtra (Rs. In Crere) FinancialYear Release-PM-ABHIM Release-NHM 2022-23 4.07 2187.13 2023-24 31.76 2729.30 2024-25 65.48 2417.95 Note:TheabovereleasesrelatetoCentralGovt.Grants &donotincludeStatesharecontribution. 3