Lok Sabha Question No. 3391 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Vacant Posts in Health Sector
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3391 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## VACANT POSTS IN HEALTH SECTOR

## 3391. SHRI T.R. BAALU:

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

- (a) whether a large number of posts are lying vacant including doctors and para-medical staff in health sector in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said shortage is posing difficulties in tackling COVID-19 and has become a challenge to health workers in the country and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (d) the necessary steps taken to fill up the backlog vacancies in the health sector and to make available the required number of health professionals as per norms in the health institutions?

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

- (a) & (b) As per Rural Health Statistics 2019-20 (as on 31st March 2020) publication, brought out  by  this  Ministry,  based  on  the  information  provided  by  State/UTs,  the  State/UT  wise vacancy of healthcare  workers  (including  doctors,  nurses  and  lab  technicians)  in  Rural  and Urban areas of the country is placed at Annexure - I.

(c)  &  (d)  Public  Health  is  a  State  Subject  and  all  the  administrative  and  personnel  matters, including that of recruitment of doctors and other health workforce in public health facilities lie with the respective State Governments. The shortage of health human resource in public health  facilities  varies  from  State  to  State  depending  upon  their  policies  and  context. However,  under  National  Health  Mission  (NHM),  financial  and  technical  supports  are provided  to  the  State/UTs  to  strengthen  their  healthcare  systems  including  support  for recruitment of human  resources (Doctors and other health workers), based on the requirements  posed  by  them  in  their  Programme  Implementation  Plans  (PIPs)  within  their overall resource envelope.

However, Government of India has taken several steps to ensure that the public health system is well equipped to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which are as follows:

-  The Government of India constituted 11 Empowered Groups under Disaster Management Act  2005  to  formulate  plans  and  provide  solutions  to  fight  against  COVID-19.  The Empowered  Group  4  on  COVID-19  (Augmenting  Human  Resources  and  Capacity Building) launched an online data pool of state wise human resources and volunteers. The details of doctors, nurses and paramedics who have retired from Central Govt. services in last  5  years  was  collected  at  central  level  and  shared  with  the  States  so  that  State Governments could use their services on need basis.
-  A detailed SOP was released by MoHFW regarding deployment of residents/ PG students and nursing students as part of hospital management for COVID-19.
-  In  case  of  requirement  for  additional  Human  Resources  for  COVID  management, additional  resources  through  ECRP  I  package  was  provided  to  the  states  to  engage temporary HR as per need.

Further,  many  provisions  have  been  made  under  NHM  for  improving  availability  health resources, which includes:

-  Provision for additional allowance to staff posted in rural and remote areas
-  Higher  remuneration  for  staff  posted  in  rural  areas  compared  to  those  posted  in  urban areas
-  Provision for paying performance-based team incentives to staff after achieving over and above defined threshold of performance
-  Flexibility to attract and retain specialists:
-  Lucrative flexible salary: 'You quote We pay' scheme
-  Fixed tenure posting in difficult areas
-  Insourcing of specialist as per requirement
-  Providing scope for professional growth and continuous professional learning
-  Starting DNB and CPS courses in the district hospitals
-  Implementation of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric (EmOC) Certificate Program

## Status of Vacancy in Rural Areas of India as per Rural Health Statistics 2019-20 (as on 31st March 2020)

| Designation of Health Worker                                                                 |   Vacancy (in No.) |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| Doctors at PHCs                                                                              |               8638 |
| AYUSH Doctors at PHCs                                                                        |               2234 |
| AYUSH Specialsits at CHCs                                                                    |                844 |
| Total Specialists [Surgeons, Obstetrician& Gynecologist, Physicians &Paediatricians] at CHCs |               8401 |
| GDMOAllopathic at CHCs                                                                       |                759 |
| GDMOAYUSHat CHCs                                                                             |               3168 |
| Radiographer at CHCs                                                                         |               1700 |
| Pharmacists at PHCs                                                                          |               4424 |
| Pharmacists at CHCs                                                                          |               1292 |
| Staff Nurse at PHCs                                                                          |               7248 |
| Nursing Staff at CHCs                                                                        |               8393 |

## Status of Vacancy in Urban Areas of India as Rural Health Statistics 2019-20 (as on 31st March 2020)

| Designation of Health Worker                                                                 |   Vacancy (in No.) |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| Health Worker female/ ANMat PHCs                                                             |               3861 |
| Doctors at PHCs                                                                              |               1232 |
| Total Specialists [Surgeons, Obstetrician& Gynecologist, Physicians &Paediatricians] at CHCs |                625 |
| GDMOAllopathic at CHCs                                                                       |                232 |
| Radiographer at CHCs                                                                         |                 93 |
| Pharmacists at PHCs                                                                          |               1039 |
| Pharmacists at CHCs                                                                          |                 89 |
| Lab Technicians at PHCs                                                                      |                973 |
| Lab Technicians at CHCs                                                                      |                 95 |
| Staff Nurse at PHCs                                                                          |               1875 |
| Nursing Staff at CHCs                                                                        |                762 |

Note;  Public  Health  is  a  State  Subject  and  all  the  administrative  and  personnel  matters,  including  that  of recruitment  of  doctors  and  other  health  workforce  in  public  health  facilities  lie  with  the  respective  State Governments.