Question : SHORTAGE OF MIDWIVES

(a) whether the Government has taken note of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)`s the first State of the World`s Midwifery report which has revealed shortage of qualified and skilled midwives in India, particularly in rural and remote areas;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of qualified and skilled midwives available in the country against their present requirement;

(d) whether the above report estimates that countries like India require a minimum of six skilled midwives per thousand birth in order to achieve the aim of 95% coverage; and

(e) if so, the action taken/proposed by the Government to augment the number of qualified and skilled midwives in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY)

(a) to (e): The state of World Midwifery report 2011 gives summary of 58 countries including India. In India chapter it has been stated that country’s Midwifery workforce has 324624 Midwives including nurse-midwives.

9.30 Lakhs nurses are reportedly registered with various State Nursing Council. Presently there are1842 General Nursing and Midwifery Schools, including the Government and private sector, with training capacity of 71608. Midwifery is integrated in the nursing courses.

In addition to this, 1,91,457 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) are in position at Sub centers & PHCs in the country, as per Rural Health Statistics (RHS) 2010. ANMs are also trained in Midwifery.

Government of India has sanctioned opening of 132 Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) and 137 General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) schools in areas which do not have ANM and GNM training schools to increase the number of nurses and ANMs in the country.

Apart from this, three weeks’ training for Skilled Birth Attendant is imparted to Nurses/ANMs to increase their proficiency.