Operational Delays Plague Crucial Rural Healthcare Infrastructure Despite Construction Completion
Mumbai, May 18 — More than 200 newly constructed primary health centres (PHCs) and sub-centres across Maharashtra remain non-operational due to the absence of essential supplies, electricity connections, and staff allocations, according to a senior official from the state public health department.These centres, vital for rural healthcare delivery, are meant to serve as the first point of contact during medical emergencies and disease outbreaks. They play a key role in implementing national health initiatives such as immunisation drives and maternal and child care services. However, the state’s investment in infrastructure has yet to translate into functional facilities.
Over Half of Approved Health Facilities Remain Non-Functional
Between 2021 and 2025, the department approved the construction of over 400 PHCs and sub-centres statewide. Out of these, 210 buildings have been constructed, but many remain locked and unused.“Several PHCs and sub-centres built in the last four years have not become operational because they haven’t received funds for furniture, electricity, or staffing,” the official said, noting that some buildings have remained idle for nearly two years despite being physically complete.
According to official data, only 64 of the 98 sanctioned PHCs are currently operational. The remaining 34 are non-functional due to a severe shortage of human resources and supplies. The situation is even more dire for sub-centres, where only 129 of 308 approved units are functional, leaving 179 buildings unused.
Administrative Hurdles and Funding Gaps Delay Services
Local health authorities across Maharashtra have raised repeated requests for operational funding to equip these facilities with furniture, medical supplies, and electricity. However, fund allocation remains a challenge.“Each centre is at a different stage of readiness, making it difficult to assign resources uniformly,” the official explained. “Many centres are technically complete but cannot be used without basic operational support.”
Policy Revisions Aim to Speed Up Rollout
In response to mounting concerns, State Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar announced a policy change to streamline the activation process. “Earlier, we would begin procurement and recruitment only after 75 per cent of the construction was complete. Now, we’ve moved that threshold to 50 per cent to expedite operational readiness,” Abitkar stated.Despite this revision, a former senior department official pointed out that the sheer scale of the state’s healthcare network complicates focused resource allocation. “The department manages a vast system of PHCs, sub-centres, and rural and civil hospitals. Prioritising one facility over another is not feasible, which often slows progress,” he said.
As hundreds of completed buildings remain idle, Maharashtra’s rural population continues to wait for accessible, functional healthcare services that remain locked behind administrative and funding bottlenecks.
