Lok Sabha Question No. 441 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-03
Subject: Shortage of Health Professionals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Mahesh Sahoo, Badruddin Ajmal, Kunwar Danish Ali, Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama, Umesh G. Jadhav, Jaisiddeshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji, L.S. Tejasvi Surya, Sanganna Amarappa Karadi, Gomati Sai

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.441

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03 RD  FEBRUARY, 2023

## SHORTAGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

## 441. SHRI MAHESH SAHOO:

SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

SHRI SHA.BRA.DR.JAI SIDDESHWAR

SHIVACHARYA MAHASWAMIJI:

SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA:

SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

SHRIMATI GOMATI SAI:

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

- (a)  Whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  reports  that  suggests  that  there  is  acute  shortage  of doctors  and other health professionals in the country  and if so, the details thereof,  State/UTwise;
- (b) The details of Doctor-population ratio, Hospital Beds-Patient ratio and Nurses-Patient ratio in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (c) The number of doctors and other health professionals required in the country along with the details  of  proactive  measures  taken  by  the  Government  particularly  after  the  COVID-19 pandemic  to  increase  the  Doctor-population  ratio,  Hospital  Beds  -  Patient  ratio  and  NursesPatient  ratio  as  recommended  and  at  par  with  the  WHO  and  UN  Health  indices  and  norms, State/UT-wise;
- (d) Whether the Government has launched any health mission or chalked out any action plan to address such shortage of doctors and specialists at the ground level and also reduce the burden on secondary and tertiary level hospitals in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  The  details  of  other  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  health  facilities  in government hospitals in the country; and
- (f)  Whether  the  Government  has  fixed  any  timeline  to  overcome  the  shortage  of  health professionals in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY

## ANSWER WELFARE (DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a)  to  (f):  As  per  information  provided  by  National  Medical  Commission  (NMC),  there  are 13,08,009  allopathic  doctors  registered  with  the  State  Medical  Councils  and  the  National Medical  Commission  (NMC)  as  on  June,  2022.  Assuming  80%  availability  of  registered

allopathic doctors and 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834. Also, there are 35.14 lakh registered nursing personnel in the country giving a nurse to population  ratio  of  2.06  nurses  per  1000  population  and  13  lakh  Allied  and  Healthcare Professionals in the country.

The primary responsibility for administering healthcare professional and availability of sufficient number of beds as per need in Government hospitals lies with the concerned State Government. As per the information  published  in  National  Health  Profile  (NHP),  2021,  the  details  of  beds available in Government health facilities in States/ UTs is available at page No. 417, Table No. 6.2.2 having url: https://www.cbhidghs.nic.in/showfile.php?lid=1160 .

The government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 69% in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 654 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 94% in MBBS seats from 51348 before 2014 to 99763 as of now and increase of 107% in PG seats from 31185 before 2014 to 64559 as of now.

Under National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided to the State/UTs to strengthen their health  care  system  based  on  the  proposal  received  from  the  States  so  as  to  provide  universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care services all over the country. The states are also encouraged to adopt flexible norms for engaging doctors and specialist for public healthcare facilities.

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) with an outlay of Rs. 64,180 Crores aims to support for infrastructure development for Sub-Health Centres, Urban Health  and  Wellness  Centres,  Block  Public  Health  Units,  Integrated  District  Public  Health Laboratories and Critical Care Hospital Blocks.

Ayushman  Bharat  Digital  Mission  (ABDM)  seeks  to  create  an  interoperable  digital  health ecosystem for the country and as on 31.01.2023, 32.12 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) created.

Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health coverage to 10.74  crore  families  up  to  Rs.5.00  lakh  per  family  per  year  and  22.87  crore  Ayushman  Cards have been created as on 29.01.2023.

Ayushman  Bharat-Health  and  Wellness  Centres  (AB-HWCs)  scheme  envisages  to  deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care by transforming Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health  Centres  (PHCs),  both  Rural  &  Urban,  into  Health  and  Wellness  Centres  (HWCs)  to achieve Universal Health Coverage and total HWCs as on 01.02.2023, are 156414.

To strengthen health facilities and improve availability of health professionals in the country the central government  started various central sector/centrally sponsored schemes, including 'Establishment  of  new  medical  colleges  attached  with  existing  district/referral  hospitals'  for setting  up  of  medical  colleges  and  PMSSY  for  establishing  new  AIIMS  and  upgradation  of existing  medical  colleges.  Under  the  scheme  'Development  of  Nursing  Services'  funds  are provided to States to upgrade Schools of Nursing into Colleges of Nursing.

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