AP to get 3 Public Health Labs

Vijayawada: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pravin Pawar said that three Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) have been sanctioned for Andhra Pradesh during the current financial year.

In response to a question by YSRCP member V Vijayasai Reddy, she informed the Rajya Sabha that public health and hospitals is a State subject and the primary responsibility of providing accessible, affordable and quality healthcare lies with the respective States/Union Territories.

However, she pointed out that the Government of India provides support to establish IPHL in all the 730 districts of States/UTs under PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) during the scheme period (FY 2022 to 2026) to strengthen the capacity of health system to respond to all public health needs and threats comprehensively through an integrated system of laboratories.

The Union Minister said the objectives are to strengthen the infectious and non-infectious disease surveillance system at national and sub-national levels and to provide accurate and data for analysis, information and policy decisions to detect, prevent and respond to public health threats.