India's healthcare in critical condition: 4 out of 5 public health centers below par, reveals new Govt report
self-assessment conducted by the Indian government, it has come to light that a vast majority of the country's public health facilities are falling short of essential standards mandated by the government. This comprehensive evaluation covered over two lakh healthcare facilities, encompassing district hospitals, sub-district hospitals, community health centers, primary health centers, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Detailed Assessment of Public Health Facilities
According to data published on the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) dashboard, only approximately 20% of the assessed facilities achieved a score of 80% or higher, meeting the required benchmarks for infrastructure, human resources, drugs, diagnostics, and equipment. This indicates a significant shortfall in meeting basic healthcare standards across the majority of public health facilities in India.
Challenges Unveiled by the Assessment
Out of the facilities assessed, a substantial 42%, totaling 17,190 facilities, scored below 50%, revealing critical deficiencies in crucial healthcare areas. An additional 15,172 facilities scored between 50% to 80%, illustrating varying levels of inadequacy prevalent throughout the public healthcare system.
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Government Initiatives and Future Plans
Addressing the findings, a senior health ministry official emphasized the importance of the self-assessment as a crucial first step towards
