Solar-powered primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Chhattisgarh admitted over 50 per cent more patients and conducted almost twice the number of child deliveries in a month compared to power-deficit PHCs without a solar system, according to a study released recently by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
The study, funded by Oxfam India, evaluates the role of electricity access on health outcomes in rural Chhattisgarh.
The study finds that solar powered PHCs could significantly improve in-patient services, out-patient services, emergency care, delivery services and laboratory services in rural India.
The CEEW study is based on an evaluation of 147 PHCs, including 83 having solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, across 15 districts in Chhattisgarh.
Despite being a power surplus State, one-third of the PHCs in Chhattisgarh are either un-electrified or without regular power supply. About 90 per cent of PHCs reported power cuts during peak operating hours. One-third of the PHCs experienced power cuts in the evening. More than 21 per cent of the PHCs reported damage of medical equipment due to voltage fluctuations.
Between 2012-2016, the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) installed 2 KWP off-grid solar PV rooftop systems across 570 PHCs in the State.
CEEW analysis found that a solar PV system provides 3-4 hours of backup electricity for a PHC. Also, peak generation from solar PV systems coincides with peak load times for PHCs, 12pm-4pm, making solar not simply an effective backup generation system but also a potential primary mode of power supply. Higher comfort due to better lighting and running fans in the solar PHCs increased patients’ willingness to get admitted.
In Chhattisgarh, 90 per cent of the solar powered PHCs reported cost savings from using solar PV systems over diesel generators. Diesel power costs INR 24-26 per KWH while solar plus battery costs around INR 12-14 per KWH.
According to the Rural Health Statistics 2016, India has about 25,000 PHCs. Of the functional PHCs in India, 4.6 percent are un-electrified, affecting over 38 million rural households depending on these healthcare facilities. Further, the District level Household and Facility Survey – 4 (DlHS-4) data indicate that one out of every two PHCs in the country suffers from unreliable power supply or has no electricity access at all. Unreliable and poor-quality electricity supply limits diagnostic and treatment services, reduces hours of operation to daytime, and forces patients to travel a longer distance in search of better healthcare.