Centre highlights expansion of Primary Healthcare, Admits regional imbalances

The Union government on Monday said it has taken multiple steps to strengthen India’s public healthcare system under the National Health Mission (NHM) , with a focus on expanding infrastructure, improving access to free diagnostics and drugs, and upgrading primary healthcare facilities, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated that the Ministry provides technical and financial assistance to States and Union Territories based on Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) submitted by them. These proposals are approved through Records of Proceedings (RoPs) in accordance with prescribed norms and available resources, with all details placed in the public domain.

As per government norms, rural healthcare infrastructure is planned on a population basis. An Ayushman Arogya Mandir–Sub Health Centre (SHC-AAM) is recommended for every 5,000 population in plain areas and 3,000 in hilly or tribal regions. Ayushman Arogya Mandir–Primary Health Centres (AAM-PHCs) cater to 30,000 people in plains and 20,000 in difficult terrain, while Community Health Centres (CHCs) are designed to serve 1.2 lakh population in plains and 80,000 in hilly and tribal areas . District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals and First Referral Units provide secondary-level care for both rural and urban populations.

The Minister said Primary Health Centres play a critical role as the first point of medical care beyond sub-centres, offering outpatient services, maternal and child healthcare, immunisation, family planning, disease prevention and basic diagnostics. Community Health Centres function as first referral units, providing specialist services in medicine, surgery, obstetrics and paediatrics, along with emergency and inpatient care.

To reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, the Centre has rolled out the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative under NHM. Under this programme, diagnostic tests are provided free of cost at all public health facilities 14 tests at SHC-AAMs, 63 at AAM-PHCs, 97 at CHCs, 111 at Sub-District Hospitals and 134 tests at District Hospitals.

The government also highlighted the expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Announced in 2018 with a target of 1.5 lakh centres by December 2022, a total of 1,82,944 AAMs have been established and made operational as of December 31, 2025.