Parliament Question: Health Infrastructure in Rural Punjab

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1117 TO BE ANSWERED ON05.12.2025 HEALTH INFRASTRUCTUREIN RURALPUNJAB 1117. SMTHARSIMRATKAUR BADAL: Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate: (a) whether the Government has taken note of the newspaper reports regarding crumbling healthinfrastructure in rural Punjab,if so, the detailsthereof; (b) whether the Government is aware that more than 600rural dispensaries across the State do not have a single Medical Officer depriving rural residents without access to basic healthcare,if so, the details thereof; (c) whether these rural dispensaries were created as per the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment underPanchayati Raj Institutions, if so, the detailsthereof; (d) whether the Government is likely to fix any responsibility and take action against the State health department for sheer negligence of rural health infrastructure, if so, the detailsthereof; and (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to operationalize these dispensaries inthe said State? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a)to(e): Under the National Health Mission, the Ministry of HealthandFamilyWelfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs including State of Punjab to strengthen the public healthcare system including establishment/upgradation of healthcare facilities based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for theproposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. The detailsare available inpublic domainat: https://nhm.gov.in/index4.php?lang=1&level=0&linkid=57&lid=70 The details of healthcare facilities/ infrastructure anddetailsof medical staffincluding Medical Officers inIndia are availableat website of Ministry of HealthandFamilyWelfareat the Uniform Resources Locator(URL) asunder: https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infr astructure%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdf Under the CSS component of PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), provisions have been made for the State of Punjab for the construction and strengthening of 22 Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs), and 21 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) during the scheme period from FY2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total outlay amounting toRs. 755.65 Crore. The 15th Finance Commission has significantly strengthened Panchayati Raj Institutions by providing assured, formula-based grants to rural local bodies for improving basic services, health infrastructure and local governance. These grants include both tied funds—focused on sanitation, drinking water and primary health—and untied funds that allow PRIs flexibility to address local priorities. The Commission emphasizes transparency, planning and utilization of funds through GPDPs, while encouraging capacity building and accountability at the grassroots level. This support enables PRIs to play a more effective role indecentralized planninganddeliveryof essential services. Under FC XV Health Sector Grants, an amount of Rs. 2129.38 Crore has been approvedagainst the totalallocationof Rs. 2130.71Cr for the scheme period, i.e,FY2021-22 to 2025-26 which includes construction of 1222 building-less SHC-AAM, 54 building-less PHC-AAM, 16 building-less CHC, 120 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) & 151 Urban- Ayushman Arogya Mandir (U-AAM). Health isa state subject. The primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system, including filling up of the vacancies in in healthcare facilities 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 in rural areas based onthe proposals receivedinthe formof ProgrammeImplementation Plans(PIPs)under National HealthMission. Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging doctors and paramedics to practice in rural and remote areas of the country includingKerala toaddress the shortage of staff: • Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas andfor their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilitiesinsuch areas.• Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections inrural & remote area. • Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities. • States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibilityinstrategies such as“YouQuote We Pay”. • Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areashave also beenintroduced underNHM. • Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achievingimprovement inhealthoutcomes. ****