The Rural Health Statistics 2009 that captures information on health infrastructure and human resources in the government facilities up to the Community Health Centre level, has just been finalized. Comparing the situation in 2005 and in 2009, there is a remarkable addition of human resources of all categories and improvement in the physical infrastructure of the Health Sub Centres, Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres. Since NRHM has been a major source of financing health infrastructure development and human resource deployment during this period, the gains reflect the impact of NRHM. The RHS 2009 also recognizes the long way to go before provision of human resources as per the Indian Public Health Standards. Nevertheless, the gains confirm the NRHM thrust on human resources for health. The Tables below capture the gains in infrastructure and human resources between 2005 and 2009.

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT 2005 – 2009

RHS 2005 RHS 2009 Increase
Health Sub Centres in Government buldings 63901

(50%)

 79265

(54%)

 15,364
PHCs in Government buildings 16023

(78%)

 20107

(86%)

 4084
CHCs in Government buildings 2822 4050

(90%)

 1228

HUMAN RESOURCE ADDITION 2005 TO 2009

RHS 2005 RHS 2009 Increase
ANMs at Sub Centre/PHC 1,33,194 1,90.919 57,725
Nurse Midwife atPHC/CHC 28930 56975 28045
MBBS Doctors at PHCs 20308 23892 3674
AYUSH Doctors at PHCs NA 6323 6323
Specialists at CHCs 3550 5789 2239
GDMOs at CHCs NA 5368 5368
AYUSH Doctors NA 7692 7692
Pharmacists atPHC/CHC 17708 20967 3259
Lab. Technicians at PHC/CHC 12284 12904 620
Radiographers at CHCs 1337 1867 500

Clearly the human resource addition and the improvements in physical infrastructure have made it possible for the public system to deliver more health services in remote regions.