Question : Shortage of Doctors

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is a huge shortage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in the Government hospitals particularly in rural areas of the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to deal with shortage of doctors and other healthcare professionals in the country specially in rural areas;

(c) the steps being taken by the Government to encourage the doctors and nurses for posting in rural areas;

(d) whether the Government has any plan to involve private players vis-à-vis promotion of alternative medical course to bridge the growing gap between demand and supply of healthcare professionals, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the further steps taken/being taken by the Government to expedite recruitment process to fill the vacant posts in various Government hospitals in the country?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a): As per Rural Health Statistics (RHS) 2016, there is a shortage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in public health facilities. State/UT-wise availability of doctors, specialists, nursing staff, radiographers, pharmacists and laboratory technicians is at Annexure.

Various reasons attributed for shortage of healthcare professionals in public health facilities, particularly in rural areas include overall shortage of healthcare professionals in the country, feeling of professional isolation among healthcare professionals, and unwillingness on their part to work in rural areas.




(b) & (c): Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the primary responsibility to ensure availability of healthcare professionals in public health facilities lies with the State/UT Governments. However, under the National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems including support for insourcing or engagement of healthcare professionals on contractual basis, based on the requirements posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope.

Support is also provided to States/UTs for hard area allowance to healthcare professionals for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such areas.

In order to encourage doctors to work in remote and difficult areas, the Medical Council of India, with the previous approval of Central Government, has amended the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 to provide:
I. 50% of the seats in Post Graduate Diploma Courses shall be reserved for Medical Officers in the Government service, who have served for at least three years in remote and difficult areas. After acquiring the PG Diploma, the Medical Officers shall serve for two more years in remote and/or difficult areas; and

II. Incentive at the rate of 10% of the marks obtained for each year in service in remote or difficult areas and upto the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained in the entrance test for admissions in Post Graduate Medical Courses.

(d): Currently, there is no such plan.

(e): Public health and hospitals being a State subject, all administrative and personnel matters, including recruitment of health human resources falls within the jurisdiction of the respective State/UT Governments. However, under NHM the State/UT Governments are advised from time to time to expedite recruitment of health human resources to fill the vacant posts in various public health facilities.