Abstract

The scarcity of infrastructure facilities in tribal regions poses significant obstacles to the effective delivery of healthcare services to tribal communities. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial for realizing the objectives of Universal Health Coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. In light of these challenges, this paper endeavors to assess the availability of healthcare facilities, specifically Sub-Centres, Primary Health Centers (PHCs), and Community Health Centers (CHCs), with a specific focus on tribal areas, while also examining the primary challenges that need to be addressed. The paper exclusively scrutinizes the state-wise percentage shortfalls in public health centers, utilizing data from Rural Health Statistics. Regarding sub-centers, there remains a substantial deficiency in enhancing the capabilities of PHCs and CHCs in tribal areas. Notably, the study reveals that sub-centers and PHCs in the tribal-dominated North-Eastern states exhibit a more favorable health workforce situation compared to other regions of India. This research highlights the critical issue of infrastructure inadequacies in tribal regions and underscores the imperative of targeted interventions to rectify these deficiencies. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening healthcare facilities and augmenting the healthcare workforce in tribal regions as a means to achieve the goals of Universal Health Coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords: Tribal Health, Infrastructure, SDG, SCs, PHCs, CHCs, India