OBJECTIVES:

India has a vast public health infrastructure, with 145,894 Sub-Centers (SCs) providing health services to 72.2% of the country's population living in rural areas. Although the numbers look impressive, their functional status needs to be studied in terms of physical infrastructure, manpower, equipment, drugs, and other logistical supplies that are greatly needed for ensuring quality services. The present work aims to study the infrastructure facilities and manpower in a sample of SCs in the district of Nellore in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.

METHODS:

Thirty SCs selected by multi-stage sampling have been studied using a structured and pre-tested performance standards questionnaire. The data have been analyzed with reference to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for SCs.

RESULTS:

Many deficiencies were identified in the infrastructure and manpower in the SCs studied. Some of the important findings were that the deficiency of Health Workers (Male) was 76.7%. Only 6.7% of the SCs operate in a Designated Government Building. Communication facilities, such as telephones, are present in only 3.3% of the SCs. Seventy-three percent (73%) of the SCs were located more than 5km from the remotest village in the coverage area. Residential accommodations for Health Workers (female) was available in only 3.3% of the SCs. There is also a severe deficiency of drugs and equipment in the SCs as per the IPHS.

CONCLUSIONS:

SCs lack the manpower and vital infrastructure necessary to function and deliver services effectively to the rural population.