Haryana to roll out round-the-clock emergency services at 100 rural health facilities

The Haryana government has identified 100 health institutions across rural districts to function as First Referral Units and provide round-the-clock emergency medical services, in a move aimed at strengthening the state’s primary healthcare network.

Officials said the facilities will offer continuous services for emergency cases, including maternal care, newborn treatment and basic surgical support. Blood storage units will also be made available at several centres to ensure timely response in critical situations.

The initiative is intended to reduce delays in treatment for patients from villages who often travel long distances to reach district hospitals. By equipping select rural health institutions to handle emergencies at any hour, the government hopes to improve referral systems and ease pressure on tertiary hospitals.

Health department officials said the selected centres will be staffed with trained medical personnel and supported with upgraded equipment. The focus will remain on addressing maternal and neonatal complications, trauma cases and other urgent conditions that require immediate intervention.

Public health experts say strengthening First Referral Units is essential for improving healthcare access in rural regions, where gaps in infrastructure and specialist availability often lead to avoidable complications.

The rollout is expected to be implemented in phases, with monitoring mechanisms to assess service availability and patient outcomes at the designated facilities.