**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer given in Lok Sabha on December 5, 2025, regarding Unstarred Question No. 1052 concerning the strengthening of health infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the Dharmapuri district. The answer outlines various initiatives and fund allocations made by the Union Government to support the State's health infrastructure under different national health programs from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. It also specifies projects approved for construction/modernization of medical facilities and steps taken to address shortages of medical staff.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Health Mission (NHM):**
* Financial and technical support is provided to States/UTs based on proposals received in their Programme Implementation Plan.
* State-wise fund allocation for strengthening healthcare facilities over the last three years can be accessed via provided link.
* **Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):**
* Provision for construction/strengthening of 708 Urban-Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), 38 Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHL), and 37 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) in Tamil Nadu during FY 2021-22 to 2025-26.
* Total financial outlay: Rs. 1656.32 Crores.
* **Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV):**
* Rs. 4249.42 Crore approved for Tamil Nadu for the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
* Rs. 4249.42 Crore released to local bodies, including capital cost for establishment.
* **Emergency COVID Response Package-II (ECRP-II):**
* Support is being provided for Pediatric Care Units, Pediatric Centre of Excellence, Augmentation of additional beds, Augmentation of ICU beds, 50 & 100 bedded Field Hospitals, Referral Transport & Liquid Medical Oxygen Plant.
* Tamil Nadu has fully utilized a total of Rs. 798.94 crores in FY 2021-22.
* **Upgrading Health Centers in Dharmapuri:**
* Rs.57.85 Crore has been allocated for upgrading Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub District Hospitals, District Hospitals and the Government Medical College Hospital in Dharmapuri District since 2021-22.
* **New Projects in Dharmapuri:**
* Approval for several new construction/modernization projects for medical infrastructure, including diagnostic and emergency care services.
* Projects include a 50-bedded Critical Care Block in the Government Medical College Hospital, Dharmapuri, additional buildings at Government Hospital, Pappireddipatti and Government Hospital, Harur, a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Wing and a mortuary facility at Government Hospital, Pennagaram, an Integrated Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) in Government Hospital, Pennagaram, and 10 Block-Level Public Health Units in Block PHCs.
* Primary care infrastructure is strengthened through the construction and upgradation of 30 buildings.
* **Addressing Staff Shortages:**
* National Health Mission–Tamil Nadu (NHM-TN) monitors district-wise staffing positions and identifies gaps.
* Recruitment processes are expedited in coordination with the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB).
* District Health Society actively involved in filling vacancies, especially for contractual and NHM-supported posts.
* There is no shortage of Doctors, Staff Nurse and paramedical staff in Dharmapuri District.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Receives financial and technical support to strengthen healthcare systems and infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Utilize funds allocated under NHM, PM-ABHIM, FC-XV, and ECRP-II for the designated projects and initiatives, and provide necessary information and proposals to the Union Government.
**Residents of Tamil Nadu (specifically Dharmapuri district)**
* **Impact:** Improved access to healthcare services through upgraded and newly constructed health facilities, diagnostic services, and a strengthened healthcare workforce.
* **Action Required:** Not directly specified.
**Medical Professionals and Staff in Dharmapuri District**
* **Impact:** Enhanced facilities and resources to provide better patient care. The document states no shortage of Doctors, Staff Nurse and paramedical staff in Dharmapuri District.
* **Action Required:** Ensure effective service delivery and utilization of the upgraded facilities.
Key Entities Referenced
National Health Mission (NHM): A centrally sponsored scheme to provide financial and technical support to States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare systems, including infrastructure.
Tamil Nadu: The Indian state which is the subject of the unstarred question regarding health infrastructure.
Pradhan Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM): A scheme under which provision is made for Tamil Nadu for construction/strengthening of Urban-Ayushman Arogya Mandir(AAM), Integrated Public Health Lab (IPHL) and Critical Care Blocks(CCBs).
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Union ministry responsible for strengthening health infrastructure, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
Dharmapuri district: A specific district in Tamil Nadu where health infrastructure improvements are being focused.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1052
TOBE ANSWERED ON05THDECEMBER 2025
STRENGTHENING OFHEALTHINFRASTRUCTURE IN TAMILNADU
1052. SHRIMANI A:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Union Government has taken any steps to strengthen the health infrastructure in the
Stateof Tamil Nadu, particularlyinDharmapuri district, undervariousnationalhealthprogrammes;
(b) the amount of funds allocated for upgrading Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health
Centres(CHCs) andDistrict Hospitals inDharmapuri during the last three years;
(c) whether the Government has approved any new projects for construction/modernization of
medicalfacilities includingdiagnostic andemergency care units, inthe said district; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to address shortages of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff
inthe district?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) : Public Health and hospital being a State subject, the primary responsibility for planning,
implementing, maintaining and to set up adequate number of healthcare facilities as per requirement
is of that State Government. Various initiatives have been taken by Government of India over the
years to strengthen public health system and improve the health infrastructure, especially in rural
and underserved areas and improving primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities including
Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu asgivenbelow:
(i) National Health Mission : Under the National Health Mission, financial andtechnical support is
provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems including the healthcare
infrastructure,based on proposals received from States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plan
within their resource envelop. State-wise fund allocation for strengthening healthcare facilities over
the last three yearscanbe accessed at the linkbelow:
https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744.
(ii) Under PM-ABHIM, provision is made for the State of Tamil Nadu for construction/
strengthening of 708 Urban-Ayushman Arogya Mandir(AAM), 38 Integrated Public Health Lab
(IPHL) and37CriticalCare Blocks(CCBs) during the scheme periodof FY2021-22 to2025-26 with
the totalfinancialout layof Rs. 1656.32Crores.
(iii) Under Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) for the State of Tamil Nadu, Rs.4249.42 Crore
has been approved for the five year period from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26 and Rs. 4249.42 Cr. has
been released to the local bodies so far that also includes capital cost for establishment andstrengthening Healthinfrastructure.
(iv) Under ECRP-II, support is being provided for Pediatric Care Units, Pediatric Centre of
Excellence, Augmentation of additional beds by provision of Prefab Units, Augmentation of ICU
beds in public healthcare facilities, 50 & 100 bedded Field Hospitals, Referral Transport & Liquid
Medical Oxygen Plant with medical gas pipeline system. The State of Tamil Nadu, a total of Rs.
Rs.798.94 croresinthe FY2021-22 which hasbeen fullyutilized.
(b): As perthe informationof State Government of Tamil Nadu, since 2021-22, a total investment of
Rs.57.85 Crore hasbeen allocatedfor upgrading PrimaryHealthCentres (PHCs), CommunityHealth
Centres (CHCs), Sub District Hospitals, District Hospitals and the Government Medical College
Hospital inDharmapuri District.
(c) : As per the information of the State Government of Tamil Nadu, the Government has approved
several new projects for the construction and modernization of medical infrastructure, including
diagnostic and emergency care services in Dharmapuri district. These include the establishment of a
50-bedded Critical Care Block in the Government Medical College Hospital, Dharmapuri, at a cost
of Rs.20.00 crore. Additional buildings have also been sanctioned at Government Hospital,
Pappireddipatti and Government Hospital, Harur at a cost of Rs.3.50 crore each, along with the
construction of a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Wing at Government Hospital, Pennagaram for
Rs.10.00 crore, and a mortuary facility in the same hospital at a cost of Rs.0.70 crore. To strengthen
diagnostic capacity, an Integrated Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) has been sanctioned in
Government Hospital, Pennagaram at a cost of Rs. 1.00 crore, in addition to the establishment of 10
Block-Level Public Health Units in Block PHCs at a total cost of Rs. 5.30 crore. Further, primary
care infrastructure has been strengthened through the construction and upgradation of 30 buildings,
including 24 Health Sub-Centres, 4 Rural PHCs, 1 Urban Health and Wellness Centre and 1 Urban
PHC,with a totalinvestment of Rs.13.85 crore.
(d) : As per the information provided by the State Government, the National Health Mission–Tamil
Nadu (NHM-TN) closely monitors district-wise staffing positions and identifies gaps requiring
immediate action. Recruitment processes are being expedited in close coordination with the Medical
Services Recruitment Board (MRB) to ensure faster conduct of examinations, timely publication of
results, prompt appointment of qualified personnel. District Health Society is also actively involved
in filling vacancies at district and sub-district levels, especially for contractual and NHM-supported
posts. There isnoshortage of Doctors, Staff Nurse andparamedicalstaff inDharmapuri District.
*****