Government Expands Emergency Health Services With 24×7 PHCs And FRUs

In a significant move to enhance emergency healthcare access across the country, the government has decided to establish 24×7 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and First Referral Units (FRUs) nationwide.

The initiative aims to improve healthcare services, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Government Expansion Of 24×7 Health Facilities

As of March 2024, the government has successfully converted 12,348 PHCs into 24×7 services, with 3,133 FRUs now operational. These health centers are part of the ongoing efforts under the National Health Mission (NHM), which is aimed at improving healthcare accessibility and quality.

Additionally, the fleet of Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) has expanded, with 1,424 MMUs now deployed across the country to ensure healthcare reach in underserved areas.

A government official, while briefing the media about the progress, highlighted these advancements during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on the progress under the NHM.

Government Benefits For Rural & Remote Areas

India operates over 30,000 PHCs, which provide essential primary healthcare to populations in rural, tribal, and remote areas. These PHCs typically cater to 30,000 people in rural areas and 20,000 people in hilly, tribal, or desert regions.

The conversion of PHCs into 24×7 facilities is expected to drastically improve access to emergency health services. Dr. Vinay Agarwal, from the Indian Medical Association, praised the initiative, emphasizing its importance for rural residents.

He cited cases like snakebite incidents, where timely medical intervention is crucial to saving lives. According to Dr. Agarwal, if healthcare services are available round-the-clock at PHCs, such emergencies could be better managed locally, preventing many deaths due to delayed medical attention. He also noted the importance of this move for improving maternal and child health services in rural areas.

Strengthening Healthcare Workforce

Another key achievement under the NHM is the notable increase in the healthcare workforce. In the financial year 2021-22 alone, NHM facilitated the engagement of 2.69 lakh additional healthcare workers.

This includes general duty medical officers, specialists, staff nurses, ANMs, AYUSH doctors, allied healthcare workers, and public health managers. This boost in human resources is seen as a critical step toward addressing the growing healthcare demands in the country.

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