Parliament Question: Strengthening of Diagnostic and Critical Care Capabilities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 315* TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13THMARCH, 2026 STRENGTHENING OF DIAGNOSTIC AND CRITICALCARE CAPABILITIES *315. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR: Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Rs. 64,180 crore PM-ABHIM outlay has successfully transformed the country's diagnostic and critical care capabilities at the district level, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the establishment of 744 Integrated Public Health Labs ensures that every district in the country is now self-reliant in disease surveillance and testing, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the construction of 621 Critical Care Blocks has effectively prepared the national healthcare system to handle future pandemics and medical emergencies, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the upgradation of over 17,000 building-less sub-centres into "Ayushman Arogya Mandirs" has significantly improved primary healthcare access in rural areas, if so, the details thereof; (e) whether the focus on "pandemic-ready" infrastructure aligns the country's health security with the highest global standards set by the WHO, if so, the details thereof; and (f) whether these infrastructure milestones serve as a critical pillar in achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA) (a) to (f) AStatement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENTREFERRED TO IN REPLYTOLOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 315*FOR13TH MARCH, 2026 (a) to (f): The PM–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched on 25 October 2021 with an outlay of Rs.64,180 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 to strengthen public health infrastructure by addressing critical gaps in primary healthcare, diagnostics, surveillance, and critical care services across rural and urban areas. PM–ABHIM seeks to address critical gaps in health infrastructure in alignment with these standards, thereby improving the availability, accessibility and quality of healthcare services, and supporting progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) component of PM–ABHIM, key infrastructure is being developed across primary, diagnostic and critical care levels to strengthen service delivery and public health functions across the health system. At the district level, an amount of Rs 1379.14 Cr has been sanctioned for 744 Integrated Public Health Laboratories to provide 134 type of test and to strengthen the availability and quality of diagnostic services and enhance the disease surveillance capacity of the public health system. These laboratories are envisaged to function as the apex of an integrated laboratory network, linking laboratories at the block, state, and regional levels, including public health and veterinary laboratories. Through linkage with the Integrated Health Information Portal (IHIP), IPHLs support improved disease surveillance, timely reporting, and better coordination for clinical management and public health response. Similarly at the block level, an amount of Rs 2195.01 Cr has been sanctioned for 2,151 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) to strengthen public health functions by improving coordination between clinical services and activities such as disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and response. The BPHUs also functions as spoke for IPHL hubs and provides 97 types of test. For strengthening critical care capacity at the district level, an amount of Rs 18808.11 Cr has been sanctioned for 621 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) to provide advanced criticalcare services along with necessary supportive and ancillary infrastructure. These facilities are intended to enhance the preparedness of the public health system to effectively respond to medical emergencies, disease outbreaks, and future pandemics. In addition, the establishment of CCBs is expected to augment the existing critical care capacity of district hospitals during non-pandemic periods, thereby improving the overall availability and quality of critical care services for patients with severe and critical conditions. An amount of Rs 5084.69 Cr has been sanctioned for establishment of 9,519 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in rural areas and Rs 5470.77 Cr has been sanctioned for operationalization of 5,456 AAMs in urban areas, to expand access to comprehensive primary healthcare services. These centres are designed to deliver a broad range of services, including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care. This initiative has significantly improved access to healthcare at the community level, enabling early detection and timely management of diseases and strengthening disease surveillance, and enhancing the country’s preparedness for public health emergencies while contributing to the goal of Universal Health Coverage. The Government of India has developed the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), which provide the normative framework for infrastructure and service delivery required to ensure quality healthcare across different levels of care. *****