Lok Sabha Question No. 4923 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-01
Subject: Shortage of Health Care Professionals during COVID-19
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri, Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4923 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2022

## SHORTAGE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DURING INITIAL PHASE OF COVID-19

## † 4923. MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHARI: SHRIMATI POONAM MANHAJAN:

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

- a) Whether  the  Government  faced  shortage  of  health  care  professionals  and  infrastructure during  initial  phase  of  COVID-19  spread  in  India  and  the  manner  in  which  Government overcame this issue;
- b) Whether  new  posts  of  health  care  workers  were  created  in  Government  sector,  if  so,  the number of posts created in the Central Government sector;
- c) The details of assistance provided to the States/UTs where there was shortage of health care professionals and infrastructure;
- d) The actions taken by each State/UTs to address shortage of health care professionals; and
- e) The details of the States/UTs which have created new posts for it, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e):  Government  of  India  is  supporting  states  in  their  endeavour  to  manage  COVID-19 since  the  beginning  of  pandemic.  Requisite  support  is  provided  to  States/UTs  to  enhance preparedness  and  response  capacities  against  COVID-19  and  other  public  health  emergencies. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has supported States to implement a three-tier arrangement of  dedicated COVID-19 health facilities in the country to reduce the risk of cross infection to non-COVID patients as well as to maintain continuity of non-COVID essential health services in the country.

Union  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  has  supported  States  through  National  Health Mission and Emergency COVID Preparedness and Response Packages (I & II) to upgrade health infrastructure including dedicated Covid beds, based on the need at the field level.

Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare through formal communications and during virtual interactions  has  advised  all  States/UTs  to  maintain  adequacy  of  hospital  bed  capacities  and requisite logistics keeping in mind the local trajectory of cases and deaths. Accordingly, the beds were made available for COVID-19 management as per the case trajectory while also ensuring availability of non-COVID essential health services by the States and districts.

Health is a State subject. The states were advised to fill up the existing vacancies under regular cadre and through NHM support.

The details of doctors, nurses and paramedics who have retired from Central govt services in last 5 years was compiled at central level and shared with the states. It was suggested that the states may contact them on need basis to extend their services at this time of crisis. A detailed SOP was released  by  Union  Ministry  of  Health  regarding  deployment  of  residents/  PG  students  and nursing students as part of Hospital Management for COVID-19.

Union  Ministry  of  Health  &  FW  continues  to  provide  support  to  States/UTs  to  enhance preparedness  and  response  capacities  against  COVID-19  and  other  public  health  emergencies. Funding support is also provided to States/UTs through National Health Mission, State Disaster Response  Funds  (SDRF)  and  Emergency  COVID-19  Response  and  Preparedness  packages. Under  ECRP  Phase  II,  a  package  of  Rs.  23,123  crores  (with  Rs.  15,000  Cr  as  Central Component) has been approved to upgrade health infrastructure including manpower, maintaining buffer stock of essential drugs, etc.

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