Performance Audit of Primary Healthcare Services in Rural Areas in Andhra Pradesh (1999-2004)

Abstract

The objective of ‘Primary Healthcare’ is to provide the basic health services to the doorsteps of rural people through the network of Sub-centres (SCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs). The major components of primary healthcare are (i) Health Education to the community, (ii) Maternal and Child Health and Family planning, (iii) Curative services, (iv) Maintenance of demographic statistics, (v) Prevention and control of local epidemics, and (vi) Implementation of National Health programmes. This Performance Audit of Primary Healthcare Services in Rural Andhra Pradesh revealed that primary healthcare in rural areas was not adequate in the State. Only 22 per cent of the doctors were in place to serve 73 per cent of the population in rural areas. There was huge shortage of medical officers, paramedical staff and health workers. Specialist services were not provided in the Round the clock PHCs. Performance of the Mobile Medical Units was very poor. National Filaria Control Prgramme was altogether neglected in rural areas. The incidence of malaria in tribal areas continued to be very high. Infant mortality rate was very high.