Patna: The health department has upgraded 135 primary health centres (PHCs) across the state into 30-bed community health centres (CHCs) to improve access to healthcare in rural areas.According to a department communique issued on Tuesday, the centres will be developed as specialised healthcare facilities under the state govt’s Saat Nishchay-3 scheme. Posts for specialists in orthopaedics, ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat (ENT) have been created at each centre.Each CHC will have 47 posts across 24 categories to ensure its functioning. These include deputy superintendent, specialist doctors, general physicians, GNM nurses, senior pharmacists, laboratory technicians and physiotherapists, besides other hospital management staff. One post each of dental hygienist and dresser, sanctioned earlier, will also be retained.The upgrade covers health centres in blocks across all 38 districts.The move is aimed at improving access to specialised treatment in rural areas and reducing patients’ dependence on district hospitals and bigger cities. It is also expected to help ease the patient load at district-level health facilities.
