Lok Sabha Question No. 48 (STARRED), answered on 2018-07-20
Subject: Shortage of Doctors and Staff Nurses
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, RAMESWAR TELI

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.48 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH JULY, 2018 SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS AND STAFF NURSES

## *48. SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE: SHRI RAMESWAR TELI:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  non - availability  of  doctors  in Government hospitals is leading to increase in the mortality rate in such h and if s o, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study to ascertain the shortag doctors and Staff Nurses in Central Government Hospitals/ Dispensaries and o Health Centres across the country, particularly in rural areas during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise and if not, the reasons therefor
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  such  shortage Ayushman Bharat -National Health Protection Mission being implemented in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  functioning  o Government hospitals?

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

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 48* FOR 20 TH JULY, 2018

(a) No such trend has come to the notice of the Government.

(b) to (d)No  study  has  been  made  in  regard  to  shortage  of  doctors  and  S Nurses  in  Central  Government  Hospitals/  Dispensaries  and  other  Health  Cen across the country, particularly in rural a reas during the last three year and curren year.  However,  Health  being  a  State  subject,  the  responsibility  for  impro functioning of the State Government hospitals is under the jurisdiction of r State Government.  Non -availability of doct ors in Public Health Centers ( PHC s)and Community Health Centers (C HC s)varies from State to State depending upon thei policies.

As per Medical Council of India (MCI), there are a total 10,41,395 all doctors registered with the State Medical Coun cils/Medical Council of India as on 31st December, 2017. Assuming 80% availability, it is estimated that aroun lakh doctors may be actually available for active service. It gives a doctor - population ratio of 1:1596 as per current population estimate of 1.33 billion against the World Health Organization (WHO) norm of 1:1000. So far, no assessment about impact shortage has been done by National Health Agency, set up for implementatio Ayushman Bharat - National Health protection Mission (AB - NHPM).

( e) The Government has taken various steps to increase the number of doct Some of these efforts include -

- a) Setting up of 6 new AIIMS at Bhopal, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh Bhubaneshwar under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
- b) The  ratio  of teachers  to  students  has  been  revised  from  1:1  to  1:2  fo MD/MS disciplines and 1:1 to 1:3 in subjects of Anaesthesiology, Fore Medicine, 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 increased from 1:2 to 1:3 in all clinical subjects and for Associate from 1:1 to 1:2 if the Associate Professor is a unit head. This would in increase in number of PG seats in the country.
- c) Diplomate  of  National  Board  (DNB)  qualification  has  been  recognized appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
- d) Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.
- e) Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re - employment against posts  of  teachers/dean/principal/  director  in  medical  colleges  from - 70 years.
- f) Relaxation  in  the  norms  of  setting  up  of  Medical  College  in  term requirement for land, faculty, staff  bed/bed strength and other infrastructure
- g) Strengthening/upgradation of State Government Medical Colleges for star new PG courses/Increase of PG seats.
- h) Establishment of New Medical Colleges by upgrading district/refe hospitals preferably in under served districts of the country and setting up additional new AIIMS in different parts of the country.
- i) Strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Governm Medical Colleges to increase MBBS seats.
- j) Under the National Health Mi ssion (NHM), financial and technical support i provided  to  States/UTs  to  strengthen  their  healthcare  systems  incl support  for  engagement  of  doctors  on  contractual  basis,  based  on requirements posed by them in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope.

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