Lok Sabha Question No. 2738 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Paucity of Medical Staff
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kalyan Banerjee

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2738 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th AUGUST, 2023

## PAUCITYOF MEDICALSTAFF

## 2738: SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that there is a shortage of 15 lakh trained human resources in the health sector in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the vacancies in the Government hospitals and CGHS in the country along with the plans of the Government to achieve the goal of 'health for all' by 2025;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to improve the medical nursing and paramedical education systems in the country to overcome the paucity of medical staff in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details of proposals in this regard?

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

- (a) &(b) 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 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000. Also, there are 36.14 lakh registered nursing personnel and 13 lakh Allied and Healthcare Professionals in the country.

With a view to improve health facilities in the country for achieving universal access to quality health care for all, the Government has taken several initiatives/schemes which include, Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centre (ABHWC), PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), LaQshya (Labour room & Quality Improvement Initiative), various initiatives under maternal and child health programme, MusQan - Quality improvement initiative of Child Health services, PM -Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (PM-ABDM), Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme.

The NHM provides support for improvement in health infrastructure, availability of adequate human resources to man health facilities, to improve availability and accessibility to quality health care especially for the underserved and marginalized groups in rural areas. Major initiatives for which States are supported include Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), implementation of NHM Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Service Initiatives.

Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) was launched on 10th October,2022 with the aim to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly to under-served areas and people remotely located. The programme includes a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, with NIMHANS as the nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) providing technology support.

The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) envisages creation of tertiary healthcare capacity in medical education, research and clinical care, in the underserved areas of the country. Since the launch of the scheme, setting up of 22 new AIIMS and 75 government medical college up-gradation projects have been approved under this scheme. Besides, quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments. Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy stores have been set up in some hospitals/institutions.

The National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) was launched to improve the quality of care delivered at different level of public health facilities (DH, SDH, CHC, U/R-PHC, HWCs). Efforts to enhance the accessibility, acceptability, and affordability of health care for all are ensured in all the identified public health facilities under the NQAS. Quality Assurance Program has provision for national and state level quality certification of Health facilities on meeting the predetermined certification criteria. The program is implemented across all States and UTs.

(c) & (d) The Government has also taken the following steps to increase the Nurses and paramedical in the country:-

(i) Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new Medical College attached with existing district/referral hospital' 157 medical colleges have been approved since 2014. Establishment of 157 nursing colleges have been announced in the budget speech 2023-24 in these medical colleges.

(ii) For Nursing Educational Programmes Student patient ratio has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:3.

(iii) The land requirement for Nursing Educational Institutes from 3 acres has been relaxed to construct building of 54,000 sq. ft. for School/College of Nursing including Hostel.

(iv) To open GNM and B.Sc. (Nursing) programme 100 bedded parent hospital is essential since 2013-2014. However, this is relaxed for hilly and tribal areas.

(v) Relaxed norms for teaching faculty to start B.Sc. (N) Programme.

(vi) Super speciality Hospital can start M.Sc. (N) without having under graduate programme.

(vii) Maximum of 100 seats will be granted to the institutions for B.Sc.(N)/GNM programmes which are having parent hospital with 300 beds without insisting on Medical College.

(viii) Distance from school to hospital has been relaxed.

(ix) Eligibility Criteria for admission to nursing programmes relaxed.

(x) The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021 notified on 28 th March, 2021 for regulating the education and services of the allied and healthcare professionals; assessment and rating of all allied and healthcare institutions to ensure uniform standards and quality assurance.