Executive Summary:
This document provides answers to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3316 regarding the lack of healthcare facilities in Sonipat Lok Sabha Constituency in Haryana. It details the support provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to strengthen public healthcare systems, availability of equipment, and personnel. It also includes findings from a third-party audit conducted in Sonipat and Jind districts. Key dates mentioned include the audit period from July 2019 to May 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Healthcare Facilities and Infrastructure:
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare supports states/UTs in strengthening public healthcare systems through the National Health Mission (NHM).
* Performance of health programs is monitored through review meetings, field visits, and Common Review Missions (CRM).
* In Sonipat, functional X-Ray plants are available at various hospitals and health centers; DCH Sonipat has Dialysis and CT Scan facilities under PPP.
* In Jind, X-Ray services are functional at various hospitals; DCH Jind has Dialysis and CT Scan facilities under PPP.
Addressing Shortage of Doctors:
* The Health Dynamics of India (HDI) publication provides state/UT-wise details of doctors and healthcare professionals.
* Incentives and honorariums are provided under NHM to encourage doctors to practice in rural areas, including hard area allowance and incentives for specialists.
* States are allowed to offer negotiable salaries and non-monetary incentives to attract specialists.
* Multi-skilling of doctors is supported, and skill upgradation programs are in place.
Equipment and Technology:
* The government aims to modernize medical equipment in public hospitals.
* Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022 outlines minimum equipment standards.
* The Ministry supports states/UTs in strengthening diagnostic services, including providing diagnostic equipment.
Third-Party Audit Findings:
* A third-party audit of the Health Department Sonipat was conducted from July 2019 to May 2025.
* The audit highlighted 17 vacancies in the Health Department Sonipat and issues with private hospitals, overpayments, and store verification.
* District Jind has limited specialists: one Gynecologist, one Pediatrician, two Anesthetists, and no Radiologist or Skin Specialist.
Impact Analysis:
States/Union Territories:
Impact: Requires to plan and propose to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare their needs for strengthening the public healthcare system under the National Health Mission (NHM) as Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs). Need to implement measures to address doctor shortages in rural areas.
Action Required: Regular monitoring of health programs through review meetings, field visits, and Common Review Missions (CRM). Addressing vacancies and improving healthcare services in Sonipat and Jind based on the audit findings.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
Impact: Responsible for providing technical and financial support to States/UTs for strengthening the public healthcare system. Should monitor the implementation of health programs and address the gaps identified in the audit reports.
Action Required: Reviewing and approving proposals from States/UTs. Conducting regular reviews and field visits to monitor progress. Taking action on the findings of the third-party audit.
Healthcare Professionals:
Impact: Could benefit from incentives and opportunities for skill upgradation and multi-skilling.
Action Required: Consider practicing in rural and remote areas to avail of the incentives offered. Participate in skill upgradation programs.
Citizens of Sonipat and Jind Districts:
Impact: Access to healthcare services is affected by the availability of facilities, equipment, and specialists.
Action Required: Be aware of the healthcare facilities available and report any issues to the relevant authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Union Ministry responsible for health policy in India, answering the Lok Sabha question.
Sonipat Lok Sabha Constituency, Haryana: A parliamentary constituency in Haryana, focus of the healthcare assessment.
Jind, Haryana: A district in Haryana, specifically mentioned in relation to healthcare facilities and audits.
National Health Mission (NHM): A centrally sponsored scheme providing financial and technical support to states/UTs for strengthening public healthcare systems.
Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022: A set of standards for equipment availability at each level of healthcare facilities.
District Civil Hospital (DCH) Sonipat: A hospital in Sonipat, Haryana, mentioned in relation to available facilities.
Common Review Missions (CRM): A review mission conducted annually to assess and monitor the progress and implementation status under the National Health Mission scheme.
Principal Accountant General Audit, Haryana: The auditing body that conducted a third-party audit of the Health Department in Sonipat.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3316
TO BE ANSWERED ON08.08.2025
LACK OFHEALTHCARE FACILITIES
3316. SHRISATPALBRAHAMCHARI:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate:
a) whether the Government has carried out any integrated assessment on the current lack of
healthcare facilities such as absence of Radiology, MRI, Cath Lab etc., in Sonipat Lok
Sabha Constituency in Haryana, particularly in Jind and Sonipat Civil Hospital and
Kharkhoda block;
b) the action taken by the Government to overcome the shortage of doctors, particularly
specialists like gynaecologists, paediatricians, surgeons etc. during the last two years
alongwiththe numberof vacancies inthissector;
c) whether adequate availability of essential equipment - such as lab machines, oxygen
support,ventilatorsandmedicineshasbeenensured atPHC,CHC andSDCHlevels,if so,
the detailsthereofand if not,the timelinefor overcomingthese shortages; and
d) whether the Government has conducted any third party audit, impact evaluation or CAG
level inspection toimprove health services in Sonipatand Jind districts of the State, if so,
the keyfindingsandif not,the timeline for such evaluation?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the
States/UTstostrengthenthe publichealthcaresystem,based onthe proposalsreceivedinthe form
of Programme Implementation Plans(PIPs) under National HealthMission (NHM). Government
of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per
norms& availableresources.
Under NHM, the performance of various health programmes is regularly monitored inall
the States/UTs , through review meetings, mid-term reviews of key deliverables, field visits of
senior officials, promoting performance by setting up benchmarks for service delivery &rewarding achievements etc. Also, Common Review Missions (CRM) are conducted annually to
assessandmonitorthe progressandimplementationstatusunderthe scheme.
As per the information provided by the State of Haryana, in Sonipat, functional X-Ray
plants are available at District Civil Hospital (DCH) Sonipat, Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH)
Kharkhoda, SDH Gohana, SDH Ganaur, Community Health Centre (CHC) Mundlana, CHC
Firozpur Bangar, and CHC Juan. DCH Sonipat has Dialysis wing and CT Scan facilities under
PublicPrivate Partnership(PPP)mode.
In Jind, X-Ray services are functional at DCH Jind, SDH Narwana, SDCH Safidon, SDH
Uchana, CHC Julana, and TB Hospital Jind. DCH Jind also has Dialysis wing and CT Scan
facilitiesunderPPPmode.
(b): Health Dynamics of India (HDI) (Infrastructure & Human Resources), 2022-23 is an annual
publication, based on healthcare administrative data reported by States/UTs. The State/UT-wise
details of doctorsand otherhealthcare professionals inrural healthcarefacilities inthe country, is
available onthe website of Ministry of HealthandFamily Welfareat Uniform Resources Locator
(URL) asunder:
https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastructu
re%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdf
Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging
doctorstopracticeinrural andremote areasof the country:
Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for
their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in
such areas.
Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Ob stetric Care (EmoC) trained, Pediatricians
& Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to
increase availability of specialists for conductingCesarean Sectionsin rural & 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
conductingAdolescent Reproductive andSexualHealthactivities.
States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility
instrategiessuch as“You Quote We Pay”.
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.
Multi-skilling of doctorsissupported underNHM toovercome the shortage of specialists.
Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving
improvementinhealth outcomes.(c): The government has initiated various schemes/programmes to modernize and upgrade the
medical equipment and technologies in public hospitals to provide accurate and efficient
healthcareservices:
Medical equipment is an integral part of healthcare service delivery and is crucial for
instituting early diagnosis and prompt treatment leading to improved health outcomes.
Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS)-2022 has laid down the minimum standards for
equipmentavailability at eachlevelof healthcare.
Under NHM, the Ministry provides support to the States/UTs for strengthening of
diagnostic services including diagnostic equipment for health facilities as per IPHS
normsbased onthe gapassessment done bythe states/UTs.
(d): As per the information provided by the State of Haryana, a third-party audit of Health
Department Sonipat was conducted by Principal Accountant General (Audit), Haryana from July
2019 to May 2025. The audit highlighted 17 vacancies out of 64 sanctioned posts in Health
Department Sonipat. It also found that private hospitals were not de-empanelled despite
directions, overpaymentof ₹60,000was made by CHC Bhainswal Kalan toa Bio-Medical Waste
firm, physical verification of stores was not done at PHC Jakholi, and X-Ray machine was not
availableat CHC Bhainswal Kalan.
In District Jind, there is only one Gynecologist, one Pediatrician, and two Anaesthetists
posted. Additionally, there isnoRadiologist andnoSkinSpecialist posted inthe district.
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