A report of the Union health ministry says the Assam health department has been running with a shortfall of as many as 1731 sub-centres and health and wellness centres in rural areas and a sizeable number of male health workers.

The report — Rural Health Statistics (2018-19) — throws light on various aspects of the state health department.

While it talks about some positive aspects like increasing number of health centres and government buildings for them, it says Assam continues to be one of the states with poor health infrastructure.

During the period 2005 and 2019 (till March 31), the Assam government built 1,412 buildings for sub-centres, set up 336 primary health centres, appointed 549 allopathic doctors and appointed 5,783 auxiliary nursing midwifery (ANM) nurses. It, however, says rural Assam needs 6,374 sub-centres and HWC-SC (health and wellness centres upgraded from sub-centres) but running with a shortfall of 1,731 which is 27 per cent of the total number.

There is a shortfall of 94 primary health centres (PHC) and HWC-PHCs (health and wellness centres upgraded from PHC) against the requirement of 1,040 and shortfall of 32 community health centres as against the requirement of 260.

The report says although rural Assam needs 4,643 male health workers, it has only 3,080. However, the state has appointed female health workers twice the size of its requirement. It says there are 9,010 female health workers as against the requirement of 4,643.

According to the report, there is only 56 dental surgeons in rural Assam as against the requirement of 354. There is a shortfall of 572 specialists — 171 surgeons, 95 obstetricians and gynaecologists, 171 physicians and 135 paediatricians — besides a shortfall of 87 radiographers.

On infrastructure the report says of the 4,015 sub-centres running in rural Assam, only 52.7 per cent has ANM quarters, 12.2 per cent does not have regular water supply and 62.3 per cent does not have electricity supply.

Of the 698 primary health centres, only 44.4 per cent runs 24 X 7 basis, 79.7 per cent has labour rooms, only six per cent has operation theatres and 38.3 per cent with at least four beds.

Total 6.7 per cent PHCs are running without electric supply, 1.1 per cent without regular water supply and 10.6 per cent without all-weather motorable roads.