Lok Sabha Question No. 168 (STARRED), answered on 2017-12-29
Subject: Shortage of Specialist Doctors/Staff
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: PRATIMA MONDAL, MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 168 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH DECEMBER, 2017 SHORTAGE OF SPECIALI ST DOCTORS/STAFF

## *168. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL: SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

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

- (a) whether there is a shortage of specialist doctors/staff in Primary Heal (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and CGHS dispensaries in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken measures to appoint specialized doctors in PHCs, CHCs and CGHS dispensaries;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether greater fiscal autonomy has helped States to recruit better staff f and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA )

- (a)to ( d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 168* FOR 29 TH DECEMBER, 2017

(a)to (c) 'Public health and hospitals' is a State subject. Shortage of specialists, doctors and staff in PHCs and CHCs varies from State to State depending upon policies and context.  However, under the National Health Mission (NHM), fin and technical s upport is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare s including  support  for  engagement  of  specialist  doctors/staff  on  contractu based on the requirements posed by them in their Programme Implementation Pl (PIPs) within their o verall resource envelope.

Support is also provided to States/UTs for hard area allowance to spe doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quar they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such areas. They are also advised to fill up vacant positions.

To encourage doctors working in remote and difficult areas, the MCI wit previous approval of Central Government, has amended the Post Graduate Medi Education Regulations, 2000 to provi de : -

- (i) 50% of the seats in Post Graduate Diploma Courses shall be reserved 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 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 eac h year in service in remote or difficult areas as upto the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained entrance test for admissions in Post Graduate Medical Courses.

Further, the Ministry has also requested the State/UTs to come up with s HR policyin health to attract and retain doctors in Government services.

In  so  far  as  CGHS  Dispensaries  are  concerned,  there  are  total  234 sanctioned  of  Non - teaching  specialist  cadre  in  CGHS  Dispensaries  across  t Country, out of which 172 posts are filled. Recruitment being a continuous process, the Ministry regularly sends requisitions for all the vacant posts to UPSC. I retain the strength, the Govt. has introduced Dynamic Assured Career Progr Scheme  (DACP),  whereby  time - bound  promotions  ar e  given  to  doctors  without linkage  to  vacancies.  Recently,  the  retirement  age  of  the  doctors  has  a enhanced  to  65  years  to  cope - up  with  the  shortage  of  the  doctors  in  dispensari hospitals etc.

(d) There has been no study to determine whether or not greater fiscal autonomy has helped States to recruit better staff for CHCs.