Lok Sabha Question No. 1987 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-06
Subject: Shortage of Specialist Doctors in Rural Community Health Centres
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1987 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2024

## SHORTAGE OF SPECIALIST DOCTORS IN RURALCOMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

## 1987. SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that there is nearly an 80% shortage of specialist doctors in rural community health centres across the country, if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to address the shortage;
- (b) whether there are any proposal to provide incentives/support for postgraduate doctors who choose to work in rural health facilities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken to increase postgraduate medical seats in essential specialties such as pediatrics and obstetrics to better serve rural populations; and
- (d) whether the Government has a long-term strategy/policies to attract and retain specialist doctors in rural areas, particularly in the light of ongoing healthcare challenges in the country, and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d): The details of specialist doctors in Community Health Centres in India are available at website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Uniform Resources Locator (URL) as under: https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastructure%2 0%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23\_RE%20%281%29.pdf

All the administrative and personnel matters related to health human resource lies with the respective State/UT Governments. Under National Health Mission, Ministry (NHM) of Health & Family Welfare provides financial and technical support to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems based on the requirements posed by them in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope.

Under NHM, following types of guidelines for encouraging doctors to practice in rural and remote areas of the country to minimize the gap between supply and demand for doctors:

-  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 Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (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.

The Government has increased 135% in Postgraduate Medical Seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 73,157 including pediatrics and obstetrics as of now.

The measures/steps taken by the Government to increase the doctor/medical professional in the country include:-

-  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 157 medical colleges have been approved.
-  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
-  Under 'Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks' of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved.
-  Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approve.
-  DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
-  Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/Dean/Principal/ Director in medical colleges upto 70 years.

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