Lok Sabha Question No. 4123 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Shortage of Health Facilities in PHCs/CHCs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Haji Fazlur Rehman, Devji Mansingram Patel, Saikia Dilip, Devendrappa Y

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4123 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2023

## SHORTAGE OF HEALTH FACILITIES IN PHCS/CHCS

## 4123. SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN: SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI Y. DEVENDRAPPA:

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

- (a)  whether  there  is  a  shortage  of  doctors,  lab  technicians  and  pharmacists  in  Primary Health  Centres  (PHCs)  and  Community  Health  Centres  (CHCs)  in  rural  areas  of  the country and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b)  the  action  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  fill  the  vacant  posts  and  ensure  proper healthcare facilities for the villagers;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to encourage and incentivise doctors to serve in rural areas; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  overcome  the  shortage  of  Homoepathic  and Ayurvedic doctors other than allopathic doctors in villages?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  &  (b):  Rural  Health  Statistics  (RHS)  is  an  annual  publication,  based  on  Health  care administrative data reported by States/UTs. Details of State/UT-wise doctors, lab technicians and pharmacists in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in rural areas of the country may be seen at the following link of RHS 2021-22:

https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/RHS%202021%2022.pdf

States/UTs are advised to put in place transparent policies of posting and transfer, and ensure rational deployment of health professionals. As the posts required for health facilities are filled up by respective State/UT Governments, they are impressed upon to fill up the vacant posts.

National  Health  Mission  (NHM)  envisages  achievement  of  universal  access  to  equitable, affordable & quality health care services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs. The  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  provides  technical  and  financial  support  to  the

States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources.

The details of RoPs issued to States/UTs wise are available at following web link.

## https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744

(c)  &  (d):  Under  NHM,  following  types  of  incentives  and  honorarium  are  provided  for encouraging Health Specialists to practice in different regions of the country including rural and remote areas of the country:

-  Hard area allowance to specialist doctors 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.
-  Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area.
-  Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for ANM for ensuring timely ANC checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.
-  States  are  also  allowed  to  offer  negotiable  salary  to  attract  specialist  including flexibility in strategies such as 'You Quote We Pay'.
-  Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff  serving  in  difficult  areas  and  improving  accommodation  arrangement  in  rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
-  Multi-skilling  of  doctors  is  supported  under  NHM  to  overcome  the  shortage  of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving improvement in health outcomes.
-  As  per  Section  (51)  of  the  NMC  Act,  2019,  the  regulations  of  National  Medical Commission of India provide for incentive of marks at the rate of upto 10% for each year service in rural/ remote/ difficult areas of the State and maximum upto 30% in NEET (PG) for admission to PG medical courses. Further, 50% medical diploma seats are  reserved  for  the  in-service  medical  doctors  of  the  State  Government  who  have served in remote and/ or difficult areas.

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