Gaps in facilities available at Community Health Centers/Rural Hospitals as per Indian public health standards – Study from Western Maharashtra

BACKGROUND: The launch of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) gives us the opportunity to review the functioning and bring up the Community Health Centers (CHC) services to the level of Indian Public Health Standards and thus improve the lives of citizens. OBJECTIVES: Assessment of the gaps in the facilities available at Community health centers/Rural hospitals as per Indian Public health standards. METHODS: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Satara district of Maharashtra. RESULTS: This study in the majority showed that the gap in the delivery of healthcare according to IPHS. It was observed that the Funded CHCs had a better quality of services than the non-funded CHCs. The non-funded CHCs lacked essential emergency services. Along with ANC care, newborn care in the first few minutes of life is very crucial, but very little priority was given to the newborn care as those services were not as per norms. Specialists as well as paramedical and other support staff are deficient in both funded and non funded CHCs/rural hospitals (RHs). CONCLUSION: Standards were greatly influenced by funds delivered by IPHS itself. A staffing pattern is one of the important pillars in delivering various health services. A better salary, working place with continuous water supply, electricity, and cleanliness will improve the staffing pattern. Therefore, competent manpower and well-built infrastructure will help in the standard delivery of healthcare at CHC/RH and will thus serve the purpose of dispensing basic health services to every individual in the remotest areas.