In a written response to the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, highlighted the extensive efforts being made by the government to expand and strengthen healthcare infrastructure across the country. He stated that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare continues to provide both technical and financial support to states and union territories. This assistance is directed toward developing public healthcare facilities and recruiting medical personnel, based on proposals submitted through Programme Implementation Plans under the National Health Mission (NHM). Approvals for these proposals are granted in the form of Records of Proceedings, in accordance with government norms and the availability of resources.

Jadhav also underscored several key initiatives being implemented to address the growing healthcare needs of the population. Among them is the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), which focuses on improving healthcare access in rural areas. This is being achieved through the strengthening of Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities, the addition of critical care beds at district-level hospitals, and the establishment of integrated district public health laboratories. Furthermore, Block Public Health Units are being supported in 11 high-focus states to enhance local healthcare delivery.

Another significant effort comes from the Fifteenth Finance Commission, which has recommended grants to local governments aimed at reinforcing the health system at the grassroots level. These grants are distributed over a five-year period, from the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a focus on enabling states and UTs to bolster their healthcare capabilities.

The government’s commitment to correcting regional imbalances in tertiary healthcare services is also reflected in the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). This program not only focuses on establishing new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) but also on upgrading existing government medical colleges and institutions, thereby expanding both healthcare services and opportunities for quality medical education.

Additionally, the government has launched a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at establishing new medical colleges in underserved and aspirational districts where no government or private medical colleges currently exist. The funding for these initiatives is shared between the Centre and state governments, with a 90:10 ratio for North Eastern and special category states and a 60:40 ratio for other regions.

To ensure that rural and remote areas are not left behind, the government has introduced several incentives to encourage doctors and healthcare personnel to serve in these locations. Specialist doctors working in hard-to-reach areas receive allowances and residential facilities, while gynecologists, pediatricians, and anesthetists trained in emergency care are provided honorariums for conducting critical procedures like cesarean sections. Incentives are also offered to doctors and auxiliary nurse midwives for conducting timely antenatal checkups and for organizing adolescent reproductive health activities. States have been given flexibility to attract specialists through negotiable salaries under the “You Quote, We Pay” strategy.

Beyond monetary benefits, the government has introduced non-monetary incentives such as preferential admission into postgraduate courses for medical personnel serving in difficult areas, along with improved housing arrangements in rural regions. The shortage of medical specialists is also being addressed through multi-skilling programs and continuous skill upgradation of existing healthcare professionals under the NHM.

These comprehensive measures reflect the government’s commitment to creating a stronger, more accessible healthcare infrastructure across India, particularly in rural and underserved regions, as part of its broader vision of equitable and quality healthcare for all.