There are no sanctioned posts of doctors in 23 primary health centres (PHCs) out of a total of 138 such centres in Nagaland. Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Minister S. Pangnyu Phom told the State Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a starred question by NPF MLA Yitachu on the total number of doctors under Nagaland Health and Family Welfare department on the last day of the third session of 13th Nagaland Assembly, Pangnyu said there are 115 doctors posted in the PHCs.
He said the department has created numerous posts to make 100 per cent posting of doctors in rural areas and framed the roster posting policy in order to ensure posting of doctors in all the remote areas.
In order to fill up the gaps in posting, the National Health Mission has provided nine specialists, 77 general duties medical officers, 37 Ayush medical officers and 18 dental surgeons.
To another starred question by MLA C.L. John on the status of sanctioned strength of all the health units, the minister said there are 25 community health centres (CHCs), 138 PHCs, one subsidiary health centre (SHC), two big dispensaries and 559 sub centres (SCs) in the rural areas in Nagaland to ensure and provide the best medical care system.
He referred to the Indian health standard that has specified the norms of requirement of health units based on the requirement. As per the norm, he said, one sub centre is sanctioned for every 3000 population and one PHC for every 20,000 population.
Pangnyu admitted that the villages in remote and underserved areas are still not adequately covered as there is still overall shortage of 101 sub centres in the state.
In order to improve the health facilities in remote and underserved areas, the minister said the department under National Health Mission has expanded the network of health units.
He said the number of CHCs has been increased from 21 to 25, PHCs from 126 to 138 and SCs from 396 to 559 since 2012 till date.
