Evaluation Of Urban Primary Health Centres Operating Under The Public-Private Partnership Model In The State Of Uttarakhand

Background: The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was launched to improve the health status of the urban poor. Aim: This study assessed the performance of Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) functioning within the PPP healthcare delivery model. Methodology- We evaluated 27 UPHCs facilities based on the indicators like infrastructure as per IPHS / NUHM guidelines, human resources position as per norm, accessibility, utilization of services, client satisfaction, outreach activities, and comparative assessment between UPHCs under different zonal NGOs. Results- All evaluated UPHCs operated in rented buildings, lacking key infrastructure elements like cold chain rooms, AYUSH facility, generator room and separate offices. Human resources were inadequate, with all 2nd Medical Officer positions and 81.5% of LHV roles vacant. Community awareness of services like ANC (56.6%), PNC (51.1%), immunization (65.9%), and non-communicable diseases (63.6%) was notable. The availability of drugs at most UPHCs was not as per the demand placed. The irregular flow of funds restricted the smooth functioning of UPHCs. Conclusion: The study revealed that most community members preferred UPHCs for their health needs. The main challenges that deferred the functioning of the UPHCs were the irregular flow of funds, lack of human resources, and lack of required drugs.