Cosmos: A Journal of Geography

Distribution of Health Facilities in Remote Areas of Northeast India: Challenges and Solutions

Even distribution of health facilities still poses a big problem in the region as part of Northeast India which is geographically and socio culturally diverse and challenge. This research maps healthcare delivery systems in the eight states of North Eastern Region of India to assess geographical distribution and inequities in providing health care services. However, despite array of government policies and initiatives in health sector, the region still has the problems like, lack of proper physical facilities, inadequate human resource in the health sector, and geographical challenges due to hilly and mountainous terrain of the region. With the primary and secondary data together, this study offers a net description of the contemporary health facilities such as the Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and district hospitals to give direction with spatial accessibility concerns. The study also explores the effect of these restricted health care policies on population health with reference to women, children and old aged persons. Real-life examples of some specific district are employed to explain the devastating cumulative impact of weak MG on such health status indicators as high rates of maternal and infant mortality, and increasing incidence of previously controllable diseases.