Lok Sabha Question No. 2004 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Shortage of Doctors in Health Centres
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: UDAY PRATAP SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2004 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST DECEMBER, 2018

## SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS IN HEALTH CENTRES

## 2004. SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government contemplates/is contemplating to take any remedial steps to meet the  huge  shortage of  doctors  in  Government  health  centres  in the  country  particularly  to improve the doctor - patient ratio in rural areas;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has conducted  any  survey/assessment  of  rural health  centres during the last two years and the current year; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

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

Shortage  of  doctors  varies  from  State  to  State  depending  upon  their  policies contex t.  However,  the  Government  has  taken  various  remedial  steps  to  meet  the  huge shortage of doctors in Government health centres in the country particularly to improv doctor - patient ratio in rural areas. These steps include:

- I. The ratio of teachers to stu dents has been revised from 1:1 to 1:2 for all MD/MS disciplines  and  1:1  to  1:3  in  subjects  of  Anaesthesiology,  Forensic  Medici Radiotherapy, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology and Psychiatry in all medical colleges  across  the  country.  Further,  teacher :  student  ratio  in  public  funded Government Medical Colleges for Professor has been increased from 1:2 to 1:3 i all clinical subjects and for Associate Prof. from 1:1 to 1:2 if the Associate P unit head. This would result in increase in number of specialists in the country.
- II. Diplomate of National Board (DNB) qualification has been recognized appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
- III. Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.
- IV. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re - employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges from 65 - 70 years.
- V. Relaxation in the norms of setting up of Medical College in terms of requirement land, faculty, staff, bed/bed str ength and other infrastructure.
- VI. Strengthening/upgradation of State Government Medical Colleges for starting new PG courses/Increase of PG seats.
- VII. Establishment  of  New  Medical  Colleges  by  upgrading  district/referral  hospita preferably in underserved dis tricts of the country.
- VIII. Strengthening of districts hospitals to run DNB/CPS courses.

Further in order to encourage doctors to work in remote and difficult areas Medical Council of India, with the previous approval of Central Government, has amend t he Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 to provide:

- 50%  of  the  seats  in  Post  Graduate  Diploma  Courses  shall  be  reserved  for  Medic Officers in the Government service, who have served for at least three years in r and difficult areas. Aft er acquiring the PG Diploma, the Medical Officers shall serve for two more years in remote and/or difficult areas; and
- Incentive at the rate of 10% the marks obtained for each year in service in remo difficult areas upto the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained in the entrance test for admissions in Post Graduate Medical Courses .

(c) & (d) : No. However, working of National Health Mission (NHM) is reviewed/assessed inter - alia  through  external  surveys  such  as,  Natio nal Fa mily Health Survey (NFHS) and Sample  Registration  System  (SRS).    Further,  Common  Review  Missions  (CRMs)  also undertake a review of NHM every year. The report of 11th CRM is available in publi domain as under:

http://nhm.gov.in/New\_Updates 2018/ In\_ Focus/ 11 th \_ CRM\_Report\_Web.pdf for