Srinagar, March 22 (BANN) : The Jammu and Kashmir government has stated that the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Litter in Pulwama district does not meet the criteria for an upgrade to a Community Health Centre (CHC).
In response to a question from MLA Gh Mohiuddin Mir, Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakina Itoo explained that upgrading a health facility depends on several factors, including infrastructure, population coverage, availability of medical staff, equipment, and the proximity of higher-level healthcare institutions. These parameters align with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS-2022) and guidelines issued by the Finance Department.
At present, PHC Litter caters to a population of 22,609, which falls short of the IPHS requirement for a CHC—120,000 in plain areas and 80,000 in hilly or tribal regions. As a result, the center does not qualify for upgradation.
The minister further mentioned that PHC Litter is adequately staffed with five doctors—three permanent and two under the National Health Mission (NHM)—along with nine paramedics, including five regular and four NHM personnel. Additionally, the facility is located near advanced healthcare centers such as CHC Zainapora (5 km away), SDH Bijbhara (10 km), Trauma Hospital Bijbhara (10 km), and District Hospital Pulwama (16 km), ensuring proper referral services for patients.
The government’s current focus is on improving the existing healthcare infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir, which includes around 4,000 medical facilities at various levels. Efforts are being made to strengthen services as per IPHS 2022 standards while also enhancing digital healthcare through initiatives like e-Sanjeevani and telemedicine under a structured hub-and-spoke model.
