60% of Health Sub-Centres in India Unprepared to Tackle Hypertension and Diabetes: Insights from ICMR and WHO Survey
Current State of Health Sub-Centres in India
India's health sub-centres (SCs) play a vital role in community healthcare, especially for managing prevalent conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Unfortunately, a recent survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals alarming deficiencies in the capabilities of these centres. The survey encompassed 19 districts across seven states, assessing the readiness of SCs to handle these basic health issues.
Survey Findings
- Only 40% of sub-centres can effectively treat hypertension and diabetes.
- One-third of the SCs reported stock-outs of tablet metformin, a crucial anti-diabetes medication.
- Almost 45% faced shortages of tablet amlodipine, essential for managing high blood pressure.
- The median duration of medicine stock-outs ranged from one to seven months.
These findings starkly highlight the challenges facing India's primary health care infrastructure, particularly under the Ayushman Bharat programme, which aims to improve health services in rural areas. As awareness grows around hypertension and diabetes, addressing these shortcomings becomes increasingly vital for public health outcomes.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.