Gandhinagar: State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel today granted administrative approval for 34 new Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across 21 districts in the state.

Minister Patel stated that these centers will play a crucial role in strengthening rural health infrastructure and making it more accessible and public-friendly.

He further explained that currently, health centers in the state are approved based on rural population norms set by the Government of India. According to these norms, one PHC is sanctioned for every 30,000 people in general areas and every 20,000 people in tribal areas.

At present, a total of 1,499 PHCs are operational in the state, in accordance with the 2011 rural population norms.

However, in approving these 34 new PHCs, the decision was made based on geographical factors and geo-spatial analysis rather than strictly adhering to population norms. This ensures that healthcare services reach remote and inaccessible areas more effectively.

It is worth noting that a Primary Health Center is staffed with a medical officer, laboratory technician, junior pharmacist, senior clerk, and other essential personnel. DeshGujarat