Assessment of Infrastructure & Manpower in selected PHC's as per IPHS standards in two districts of Arunachal Pradesh: A Cross-sectional descriptive study

Abstract

ntroduction: Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are pivotal to India's rural healthcare network, providing essential services
to communities. This study assessed the infrastructure and manpower at PHCs in Arunachal Pradesh as per IPHS 2022
standards. Aims: To evaluate the infrastructure and manpower components of selected PHCs in East Kameng and Papum
Pare districts of Arunachal Pradesh, as per IPHS standards. Methods and Material: A cross-sectional study was
conducted in East Kameng and Papum Pare districts, selected through convenience sampling from Arunachal Pradesh's 26
districts. Five PHCs (25%) from each district were randomly selected. Data were collected using the IPHS 2022 checklist
and analyzed with Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS (trial version 25), with results presented as frequencies and
percentages. Results: Deficiencies were identified in both infrastructure and manpower. None of the PHCs fully met with
IPHS norms. 60% of PHCs had inadequate infrastructure, with poor maintenance and shared service spaces. Only 40%
had boundary walls with gates and gender-specific toilets. A major issue was the absence of staff residential quarters in
60% of PHCs. Regarding manpower: 60% of PHCs lacked staff nurses, and 40% were deficient in AYUSH doctors, lab
technicians, pharmacists, and sanitation workers. Furthermore, 80% of PHCs did not have data entry operators.
Conclusions: There are significant gaps in infrastructure and manpower at PHCs in Arunachal Pradesh, requiring urgent
interventions to meet IPHS standards.