Executive Summary:
This document provides information regarding the number of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in rural areas, the number of doctors posted in these PHCs, and the steps taken by the Government of India to improve rural healthcare infrastructure. It includes data up to March 31, 2023, and details of schemes and financial assistance provided to states/UTs up to FY 2025-26. The information was presented to Lok Sabha on August 8, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Primary Health Centres (PHCs):
* As of March 31, 2019, there were 24,855 PHCs functioning in rural areas.
* As of March 31, 2023, there were 31,882 PHCs functioning in the country, with 25,354 in rural areas and 6,528 in urban areas.
Doctor Availability:
* State/UT-wise details of doctors posted in PHCs, along with their sanctioned strength, are available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website.
Government Initiatives:
* The Central Government provides technical and financial support to States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system through various schemes.
* National Health Mission (NHM): Provides support to states/UTs based on Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs). Details of approvals for strengthening healthcare in rural areas are available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website.
* PMAyushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM): Supports the establishment of Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs) at district hospitals or medical colleges. Approvals have been granted for setting up 621 CCBs from FY2021-22 to 2025-26.
* 15th Finance Commission (FCXV): Recommended grants through local governments for the health sector, with Rs. 3581.47 Cr approved for 2673 PHC AAM from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26.
* Initiatives under NHM to address doctor shortages: Hard area allowance, honorarium to specialists, incentives for doctors and ANMs, negotiable salaries, preferential admission in post graduate courses, improved accommodation, multiskilling of doctors, and skill upgradation of existing HR.
Financial Approvals under NHM:
* Funds approved for the development of building infrastructure under NHM (in lakhs):
* 2021-22: Rs. 353,086.43
* 2022-23: Rs. 547,198.48
* 2023-24: Rs. 468,849.32
* 2024-25: Rs. 422,222.89
* 2025-26: Rs. 424,914.60
Impact Analysis:
State/UT Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for strengthening the public healthcare system, including rural healthcare infrastructure. Receive financial and technical assistance from the Central Government.
* Action Required: Develop and submit Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under NHM, utilize funds effectively for infrastructure development, and implement initiatives to address doctor shortages.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
* Impact: Provides technical and financial support to State/UT governments.
* Action Required: Approve proposals, allocate funds, and monitor the implementation of schemes and initiatives.
Healthcare Professionals (Doctors, ANMs, etc.):
* Impact: Directly involved in providing healthcare services in rural areas. Benefit from incentives, allowances, and opportunities for skill upgradation.
* Action Required: Serve in rural and remote areas, participate in skill upgradation programs, and ensure timely healthcare services.
Citizens in Rural Areas:
* Impact: Benefit from improved healthcare infrastructure, increased availability of doctors, and better access to healthcare services.
* Action Required: Utilize the available healthcare facilities and participate in health programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The central government ministry responsible for health policy in India.
Primary Health Centres PHCs: Basic healthcare facilities in India, particularly in rural areas.
National Health Mission NHM: A centrally sponsored scheme to strengthen the public healthcare system in India.
State Governments: Refers to the governments of individual states within India, responsible for public healthcare within their respective jurisdictions.
Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission PMABHIM: A centrally sponsored scheme focused on developing critical care hospital blocks and infrastructure.
Fifteenth Finance Commission FCXV: The Fifteenth Finance Commission of India, which recommended grants for the health sector.
Rural Health Statistics: A publication providing data on health infrastructure and human resources in rural areas of India.
Critical Care Hospital Blocks CCBs: Hospital infrastructure to provide intensive medical care
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3382
TO BE ANSWERED ON08.08.2025
SHORTAGEOFDOCTORSIN RURALAREAS
3382. SHRISJAGATHRATCHAKAN:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the number of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) present before 2019 and the number of
PHCsconstructed inrural areasof the countryoverthe past five years;
(b) the data of the numberof doctorscurrently posted in these PHCs, across the countryalong
with the sanctionedversus actualstrength, State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in the last five years to improve rural healthcare
infrastructure, including budget allocations and initiatives to address shortages of doctors
inthe rural areasof the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a): As per Rural Health Statistics 2018-19, 24,855 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are
functioning in the rural areas of the country as on 31.03.2019. Further, as per Health Dynamics
of India 2022-23 (Earlier known as Rural Health Statistics), there are 31,882 Primary Health
Centres(PHCs) functioninginthe country ason 31.03.2023,inwhich 25,354are inrural areas&
6,528inurbanareas.(b): The State/UT-wise details of doctors posted in PHCs along with the their sanctioned
strength in the rural area of the countryare availableat website of Ministry of Healthand Family
Welfareat the Uniform Resources Locator(URL) asunder:
https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastruct
ure%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdf
(c): The primary responsibility of strengthening the public healthcare system, including to
improve rural healthcareinfrastructure,lies with the respective StateGovernments. However, the
Central Government provides assistance to the State/UT Governments in their efforts to provide
better health care facilities to people through various schemes. The details of the schemes are as
under:
National Health Mission (NHM): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides
technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system,
basedontheproposals receivedintheform ofProgrammeImplementationPlans(PIPs)under
National Health Mission. Government of India provides approvalfor the proposal inthe form
of Recordof Proceedings(RoPs) aspernorms& availableresources. Detailsof the approvals
given for the strengthening healthcare in rural areas of the country are available at website of
Ministry of HealthandFamily Welfareat the Uniform Resources Locator(URL) asunder:
https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744
Details of funds approved during the current FY 2025-26 & for the last four FYs i.e 2024-25;
2023-24; 2022-23& 2021-22 for development of building infrastructure under NHM are as
under:
(Rs. inlakhs)
State/UT 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
Funds
353,086.43 547,198.48 468,849.32 422,222.89 424,914.60
Approved
PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM): Under the Central
Sponsored Scheme(CSS) components of the scheme,support for 100 and50-bedded Critical
Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs) at district hospitals or medical colleges for an amount ofRs.18,799.21 Crore have been accorded to States/UTs for FY2021-22 to 2025-26 for setting
up of 621 CCBs. Under Central Sector component of PM-ABHIM, 150 bedded Critical Care
Blocks are envisaged to be established in 12 AIIMS and Institute of National Importance
(INIs).
15th Finance Commission (FC-XV): The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has
recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the heath sector
to the tune of Rs.70,051 crore. Under FC XV Health Sector Grants, 2673 PHC AAM
approvedfor anamountof Rs 3581.47Cr for FY2021-22 toFY2025-26.
Under NHM, following types of initiatives have been takento address shortages of doctors
inthe rural 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 Obstetric Care (EmOC) trained, Pediatricians &
Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to
increase availability of specialists for conductingCesarean 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
conductingAdolescent Reproductive andSexualHealthactivities.
States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in
strategiessuch as“You Quote 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 areas have 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 achieving
improvement inhealthoutcomes.
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