Govt Report: Rural India's Health Sub-Centres Face Building Shortage

A significant number of sub-centres, which are the initial contact points between the primary health care system and rural communities in India, lack their own buildings, according to a government report. These sub-centres often operate from rented spaces or buildings provided by local village panchayats or voluntary societies.

The Health Dynamics of India Infrastructure and Human Resources 2022-23 report, released by Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Monday, reveals that India has 1.69 lakh sub-centres, 31,882 primary health centres (PHCs), 6,359 community health centres (CHCs), 1,340 sub-divisional/district hospitals (SDHs), 714 district hospitals (DHs), and 362 medical colleges (MCs) serving both rural and urban areas.

Integration of Health Portals

During the report's release, Chandra emphasised the need to integrate the Health Management Information System (HMIS) portal with the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal and other health ministry portals. This integration aims to ensure timely data uploads and careful analysis. The document has been published annually since 1992.

Chandra highlighted the document as a reliable source of information on various aspects of the National Health Mission (NHM). "The annual publication is a valuable document furnishing much-needed information on manpower and infrastructure within the NHM, helpful in policy making, improving processes and problem solving," he said.

Cross-State Analysis

The report provides a cross-analysis of states regarding manpower and infrastructure availability and deficiencies. Chandra noted that this data is crucial for understanding state requirements, priority areas, and formulating targeted policies and campaigns. "The health statistics also aid in making a comparison in the performance of the states on different parameters," he added.

Since its inception in 1992, the publication has offered detailed annual data on health infrastructure and human resources, updated as of March 31 each year. This data supports effective planning, monitoring, and management of health infrastructure across India.

By offering a clear snapshot of current healthcare infrastructure and human resources, the publication helps identify gaps and address needs in various regions, including rural, urban, and tribal areas.