All's not well with India's primary healthcare

 23-Mar-16, The Times of India

There's some turmoil brewing in the corridors of primary health centres (PHCs), the state's first line of defence against ill-health. With the scrapping of the Arogya Bandhu scheme, the future of 52 PHCs which were handed over to private medical colleges and NGOs is uncertain.

The ambitious project sought to use the PPP concept to cater to healthcare needs of the rural populace. But its withdrawal has created a huge shortage of healthcare professionals and led to disruption of services. The government, though, has vowed to fill the vacancies.

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PHCs cater to the poorest of the population in remote areas, which can neither afford expensive treatment nor travel long distances to reach doctors in urban areas. With most of the MoUs with private agencies set for termination by this year-end, the government is racing against time to ensure the PHCs don't remain non-functional.

Five PHCs have already come back into the government's fold. By the month end, it will get back 23 PHCs. Staff from nearby centres has been deployed in the five PHCs. Official sources said they will need at least two or three months to fill up the posts in these centres.

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